PETAL / Lasovsky Johansson Architects

Architecture firm: Lasovsky Johansson Architects
Size: 25 m²
Year: 2023
Photography: Joakim Züger, Astrid Maria Rasmussen, Aleksandre Andghuladze
Principal Architect: Hanna Johansson, Juráš Lasovský
Design Team: Hanna Johansson, Juráš Lasovský
Civil Engineer: Ladislav Oborský
Structural Engineer: Arup
Construction: Hanna Johansson, Juráš Lasovský, Ladislav Oborský
Materials: Pine wood, plywood, deck chairs, linear actuators, custom-made steel brackets, vertical profiles, and construction-grade plastic for the roof
Client: CHART Art Fair
Typology: Pavilion, Kiosk
Location: Design Museum, Copenhagen
Country: Denmark

The PETAL Pavilion by Lasovsky Johansson in Copenhagen, Denmark, is a dynamic public installation designed for the CHART Art Fair 2023, now located at the Design Museum Denmark. This kinetic structure, primarily crafted from sustainable materials like wood and plywood, redefines the use of everyday objects by integrating deck chairs that mimic the blooming cycle of a flower. The pavilion functions as a seating area during the day and transforms into a projection screen at night through automated mechanisms. Reflecting New European Bauhaus ideals, the project merges design innovation with environmental consciousness, demonstrating the architects’ commitment to sustainability, functionality, and aesthetic appeal. Completed in 2023, the pavilion serves as a versatile event space, highlighting the adaptability and creativity central to its design.

Inspired by the blooming and closing cycle of a flower, the pavilion’s design features deck chairs that open during the day to form a 360-degree seating area around a central bar. At night, these chairs fold inward, transforming the structure into a projection screen. The movement is controlled by nine linear actuators that automate the opening and closing, simulating the natural movement of a flower responding to its environment.

Sustainability plays a central role in the pavilion, aligning with the principles of the New European Bauhaus. The use of simple materials like pine wood and plywood demonstrates ecological responsibility, while the modular design allows for easy assembly and disassembly. The deck chairs not only serve their traditional function but are also integral to the structure’s kinetic design, ensuring compactness and versatility.

The pavilion consists of 18 vertical sections connected to a cylindrical plywood base. Five deck chairs are mounted on each section’s exterior, preserving their original functionality while being incorporated into the larger kinetic system. The linear actuators control the chairs’ movement along tracks between the vertical columns, allowing for smooth transitions between open and closed states. This interplay between simple materials and mechanical movement enhances the pavilion’s adaptability to different environments.

Designed by Hanna Johansson and Juráš Lasovský, PETAL is an innovative project that highlights how basic, everyday materials can be transformed into a functional, sustainable public installation. Currently serving as an event space and bar at the Design Museum Denmark, the pavilion exemplifies how creative design can merge form, function, and environmental responsibility into a cohesive architectural statement.