jakob + macfarlane: la ville intelligente

'la ville intelligente' by jakob + macfarlane located in paris, france
image © nicolas borel photographer


created by french practice jakob + macfarlane 'la ville intelligente' was temporarily featured within the parc de la villette of paris.
conceived for the hellodemain exposition, the distinctive facetted pavilion was sited within close vicinity to the geode and canal de l'ourcq with visibility from both sides of the park. the continuous form is an interpretation of the orange brand 'dna' gesturing towards the established intelligent city theme. warmly welcoming visitors from various directions with multiple entrances, it functions as a node distributing technology and media information within a larger network.



visible from both sides of the park
image © nicolas borel photographer


orange enameled steel tubes form an exterior framework while a matching colored canvas is tautly strung below the established grid. the pavilions structure rests directly upon a paved promenade distributing its weight through metal circular 'feet'. vertical tubular members emerge from these base supports and are composed of welded segments creating a visually continuous span. the intersecting horizontal struts are bolted with flat plates at each connection.



approach from promenade along the canal
image © nicolas borel photographer


the architects, jakob + macfarlane state in reference to the project:
'la ville intelligente was conceived as a future 'paris' or structure into which arteries are connected to a metropolis of the future ... entering and exiting into a new space where people can rediscover within an urban network, peripheries, streets, places ... a new urban scenography of networks, furniture and objects.'



view of pavilion from the promenade
image © nicolas borel photographer



view of pavilion from across the canal
image © nicolas borel photographer



the structure's load is distributed through circular metal feet
image © nicolas borel photographer



multiple entrances lead towards the interior
image © nicolas borel photographer



(left) exposed frame transitions visitors from the park to the interior
(right) ramp leads visitors into the pavilion
image © nicolas borel photographer



technology kiosk within pavilion
image © nicolas borel photographer



interior view of canvas shell
image © nicolas borel photographer



canvas suspended from the tubular steel frame
image © jakob+macfarlane



pretensioned ferrari canvas detail
image © jakob+macfarlane



transformation after dusk
image © 11h45 photographer



illuminated from the inside
image © 11h45 photographer



at night
image © 11h45 photographer



site plan
image © jakob+macfarlane



site plan
image © jakob+macfarlane



floor plan / level 0
image © jakob+macfarlane


project info:


la ville intelligente: exhibition architecture and scenography
site: parc de la villette
client: orange group
architects: jakob+macfarlane
engineers: rfr
production: havas event
structure and skin: sirc (tubular steel + pretensioned ferrari canvas)
date: 2011 june 23 – 26
area: 370 m2
lighting: lightlab

via designboom