Parametricism and Pavilions

Ori was parametrically designed using Rhino and Grasshopper. In order to turn this proposal into a feasible project, the design was heavily inspired by modular origami. The construct features a base module that may be altered to create 3 variations and a light steel frame that is capable of receiving these modules.

Located in the heart of the Portland Japanese Garden Cultural Village, Ori functions as an outdoor tea bar. Its adjacency with the Umami Cafe opens up outdoor dining options, and its proximity to the Jordan Schnitzer Japanese Arts Learning Center allows for curious guests to become directly involved in its construction and maintenance. The skin of this origami-inspired pavilion is made up of water-proofed cardboard panels that can easily be assembled from flat sheets by following 4 sets of simple folds. 

Not only does the structure’s use of this easily accessible material make the construction of the facade cheap, sustainable, and friendly for public engagement, but it also allows for this structure to easily be stored or transported in an efficient manner when flattened. In addition, the lightness of the cladding allows for the structural steel frame to span the length of the tea bar with little need for interior columns or additional structural members. The openness of the plan and the porosity of the facade allows for light and the visual exterior to bleed into the structure, blurring the boundary of interior and exterior.