PavilionNOW C O I R Pavilion. SHALINI GANENDRA FINE Gallery Residence. 15 September, March, 2018

Transcription

1 PavilionNOW 2017 C O I R Pavilion 15 September, March, 2018 SHALINI GANENDRA FINE Gallery Residence

2 PavilionNOW: Our Continuing Vision SGFA s PavilionNOW, a project that is the confluence of art, design and architecture, also brings together design expertise, capacity building, placemaking and a tangible result of the multidiscipline. SGFA selects and invites a promising Malaysian architect or design/architecture firm to produce a work for feature at the Gallery Residence, Shalini Ganendra Fine Art s awardwinning green space, in the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur. Involving the annual construction of a 'pavilion', through a process which entails creativity, efficiency and originality, architects/designers are encouraged to utilise sustainable, locally produced materials as a means of engaging dynamically with the gallery space. This year, POW Ideas, an award-winning, young architecture firm based in Kuala Lumpur, have designed and assembled a dynamic original structure made entirely from coconut fibre, also known as coir. The COIR Pavilion is the materialisation of POW Ideas exploration of natural materials, and demonstrates alternative uses for the material. Working in collaboration with Shalini Ganendra Fine Art and Taylor s University, through the processes of initial ideas, design, development and construction, the final structure engages dynamically with its environment, and suggests new domestic and public applications for coconut fibre. The spirit of collaboration underpins PavilionNOW, and every year since the project s inception, a group of university students have been invited to shadow the architects/designers from the initial design to completion of the PavilionNOW project. This year, the work of Taylor s University School of Architecture, has helped POW and SGFA realize the vision with the timely and skilled construction of the work we see heretoday. Shalini Ganendra Director, SGFA 2

3 The COIR Pavilion or Coir is the materialization of POW Ideas exploration of natural materials. Using coconut fibre, also known as coir, a locally sourced lightweight yet rigid material, the COIR Pavilion aims to showcase a flexible modular system using completely natural fibres. The pavilion is set in the award winning eco-gallery space of SGFA s Gallery Residence, a green oasis within a quaint neighborhood in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Through analog and computational manipulation, the pavilion is an encapsulation of design and local industrial processes. It will suggest contemporary applications of natural materials in both domestic and public realms. Jun Ong POW Ideas 3

4 Participants Shalini Ganendra Fine Art POW Ideas School of Architecture, Building and Design, Taylor s University 4

5 POW Ideas: An Architecture Collaborative POW Ideas was founded by Kyle E. and Jun Ong, who trained as architects in Melbourne and London yet with different trajectories; Kyle tends to work with landscape and Jun with lighting. The name reflects the collective s attitude towards projects i.e. with a pow!. This sense of dynamism is reflected in the collaborative and innovative approach to space and material. The practice aims to draw attention to ordinary objects and inspire people to see them differently, as well as increasing appreciation for the everyday. There is a focus on exploring materials creatively, and the collaborative has been keen to explore low-tech materials coupled with high- tech application. Some of POW Ideas recent projects include a bamboo sculpture, a clinic, a fortune-telling booth, a lawyer s office turned restaurant and the adaptive reuse of an urban factory. Jun Ong, who also works with lighting installation, was also selected as one of 15 artists from around the world to exhibit in Singapore for the ilight Festival in

6 6

7 About Coir as a Natural and Sustainable Building Material Coir is a natural fibre extracted from the husks of coconuts. Everything in between the shell and the outside coating of the coconut seed is considered coco coir, with potential process for use in agriculture and manufacturedproducts. Coconut fibre has been used in the production of ropes and cords for centuries throughout Malaysia, India, China and the Arabian Gulf. Today, the industry is particularly important in a number of areas in the developing world: 60% of the total world supply of white coir fibre is produced in India, in the areas of Pollachi and Keralastate. 36% of the total brown fibre output is produced in Sri Lanka. Over 50% of the coir fibre produced annually throughout the world is consumed in the countries of origin, mainly India. Together, India and Sri Lanka produce 90% of the coir produced every year. 7

8 Making Process 1.Coconuts are either picked from the ground or harvested from palm trees. With the correct equipment, 250 trees per day can be harvested for food. 2.The coconuts are impaled on spikes to enable easy separation of pulp and husk. 3.Coconut husks are soaked in freshwater or tidal water for a minimum of 6 months in a process called retting. 4.Traditionally, workers beat the retted pulp with wooden mallets to separate the fibres from the pith and the outer skin. Now, motorized machines with flat beater arms operating inside steel drums tend to be usedinstead. 5.The clean fibres are spread loosely on the ground to dry in the sun. 6.Bristle fibres that will not immediately be processed further are rolled and tied into loose bundles for storage or shipment. If more processing is desired, the fibres are loosely twisted into a thick yarn (wick), and wound into bales. 7.The bales are then chopped and processed into various formats, from chips, to croutons, to classic ground coconut coir. 8

9 Uses for Coir Coir is available in two varieties: brown and white. Whilst brown coir is thick and strong, harvested from only fully ripened coconuts, white coir is fine and flexible, which makes it suitable for spinning and weaving. White coir is often used to produce mats, rope and fishing nets, whereas brown coir is more suitable for making items such as brushes and sacks. Uses for brown coir also include filling mattresses and padding for automobile upholstery, as well as erosion control on hillsides and riverbanks. Its use is also widespread in agriculture, when it is often combined with other coconut by-products. Since it is a natural and renewable product, a number of firms have recently explored the possibilities of coir, and have pushed it in unprecedented directions. AMBIS Technology Ltd., for example, is a new company based in Ghana and the US which uses processed, upcycled coconut waste to produce acoustic panels. The company has garnered global attention, and won funding from the NEXUS NY Clean Energy Seed Programme. Furthermore, students and professors from the design and architecture department of Chulalongkon University in Bangkok, Thailand, explored the versatility of the coconut and produced a mobile food card made form steel and coconut compositeboard. Coir Properties Processing coir for use as a building material is green and sustainable, yet it can be expensive. It is relatively weather proof and waterproof, and resistant to damage by saltwater. It never shrinks or cracks, and is odorless, making it suitable for use in a domestic setting. Coir is durable yet lightweight, and 100% renewable. The high cellulose content of coconut fibre render it a flammable material, and thus it is vital the material is kept away from naked flames. Smoking must also be prohibited in the vicinity of any coir product for this reason. As there is a danger that coco fibre can harbor organisms that pose a threat to the bio-security of foreign countries it is imported to, the material is most suitable for local use. As a material that is environmentally-friendly and locally produced and sourced, coir is thoroughly consistent with Shalini Ganendra Fine Art s commitment to innovative design and sustainable living. 9

10 10

11 Layout of GALLERY RESIDENCE, SGFA & Installation Area 11

12 SGFA Upper Gallery Space Host to the COIR Pavilion 12

13 Concept Renders 13

14 Artist s render of COIR PAVILION. 14

15 Launch of Design Sessions for PavilionNOW: May 25th,2017 Team discussions at POW Ideas studio 15

16 Delivery of Studio Workshop: July 27th,

17 Development at Taylor s University 17

18 Materials Delivery at SGFA (August 21, 2017) 18

19 Installation Day at SGFA (Aug 22, 2017) 19

20 Scale Model by Taylor s Team 20

21 Re-structuring 21

22 22

23 Conversations WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE MATERIALS AND DESIGN? Jason The initial concept of the design was to create a homely pavilion with a domestic feeling for the inhabitants. We used Coir because it was simple and singular yet the material and the structure added to the complexity. We wanted to create the feeling of a bird s nest and also a maze. The arrangement suggests a circular circulation or a pavilion within a pavilion. Since it s just a structure we hope to put more content in it to make it more interesting. SUMMARIZE YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH SGFA Yen Over the past three years we grew and became very independent [with the SGFA Pavilions]. Working on this pavilion we didn t have much help from lecturers or any supervision as we usually did in the past. We were completely on our own. Bridget Teamwork is very important and it showed. We had very few people on our team but it was okay because we were a team- we didn t need a lot of people to complete the project. 23

24 THE MOST ENJOYABLE ASPECT? Jason We had a small team but everyone was efficient. The design process was the most fun. We explored a lot of possibilities. We also had a lot of crazy ideas for example some that involved experimenting with different kinds of lighting on the material but funding was not sufficient to complete such a project. Amos Seeing the whole thing come together was exciting. Initially everything was juststacks. You see the renderings and do the drawings but you cannot fully appreciate the scale and complexity of the project until it all comes together. Bridget The whole process was very enjoyable. The whole team was together throughout. We ve been doing pavilions for three years but this year was the first time we came into contact with that kind of material. 24

25 PavilionNOW 2017 Team With thanks to the COIR Pavilion Team: Designer: POW Ideas Jun Ong, Kyle E, Daecan Tee University Development Team: School of Architecture, Building and Design Taylor s University Amos Tan Chi Yi Benjamin Cheng Jia Yeow Nge Jia Chen Chia Sue Hwa Bridget Tan Su Ting Khor Yen Min Canisius Bong Wei Pheng Kan Sook San Lee Czen Shing Yeow Jinn Sheng Lynette Law Yong Yi Nor Syarianna Neo Caleb Soh Ng Yi Yang Dr. Veronica Ng Project Coordinator and Developer: SHALINI GANENDRA FINE ART Shalini Ganendra Chloe Phillips, Katya Speight, Fiki Falola, Pippa Ebel 25

26 For inquires, please contact SHALINI GANENDRA FINE Gallery Residence Shalini Ganendra Fine Art s holistic approach to art representation and expertise in the contemporary art of Asian emerging regions has established the organisation's distinctive presence as a placemaker and advisor. Representing some of Malaysia s most promising talent, SGFA has developed exhibition and educational programming that promotes cultural encounter andengagement. SGFA s award winning, purpose built Gallery Residence has been twice nominated for the Aga Khan Architecture Award, and was one of the first spaces to receive Malaysian Green Building Index (GBI) certification. The space plays host to the multi-disciplinary, presenting an eclectic range of art and design for contemporary collecting, including visual art, bespoke ceramic, jewellery andtextile. Educational and research programs led by SGFA are core facilitators of engagement and cross cultural development within and with South East Asia, and SGFA s VC Lecture Program contributions have just been published by UNESCO Observatory as its Arts in Asia issue. SGFA is committed to Exhibition, Education & Experience, informing eye and collection with Quality Distinction. 8 Lorong 16/7B, Section 16, Petaling Jaya, Selangor,Malaysia Tues - Sat: 11am - 7pm. Public holidays by appointment. T: Insta: sgfagallery E: sgfa@shaliniganendra.com W: Fb: SGFA 26

27 Supported by :