The ‘Termite Pavilion’ at Pestival is a six square meter walk-in structure inspired by the inside of a Namibian termite mound, and will allow Pestival goers a unique insight into these extraordinary organic forms.
The piece is in part based on the pioneering work of Dr Rupert Soar of Loughborough University’s School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering and the TERMES (Termite Emulation of Regulatory Mound Environments by Simulation) project, a team of international experts based in Namibia who have created the first ever 3D scans of termite mounds. The sensational walk-in structure inspired by the organic forms surrounding the central chimney of a Namibian termite mound.
Original scanned data has been abstracted and scaled up to give a direct insight into the extraordinary architectural and engineering skills of one of Earth’s oldest master builders. Discover how leading experts are learning from the termites for the sake of our collective future. This is an art and science collaboration between local Softroom Architects, Freeform Engineering, Atelier One, Chris Watson, KLH UK, Haberdasherylondon and Pestival.
the developers selected a central section of a termite mound scan and scaled it up to a size which would allow humans to move through it. The structure arrived in kit form and was put together on site. It is made of cross laminated timber, sourced from Austrian spruce, for reasons of sustainability, durability and cost.
The pavilion opened at the Royal Festival Hall yesterday and is open for visitors until Sunday, September 6.
More information on visiting the Termite Pavilion is available here.
Photography: Joseph Burns
