UNStudio has designed the alpolic fair stand for Mitsubishi at BAU 2017.
This marks the second time that UNStudio have collaborated with Mitsubishi Plastics, having previously designed the stand for BAU 2015.
BAU, the bi-annual trade fair for architecture, materials and systems, was attended by more than 250,000 people and took place over the course of five days between January 16th and 21st.
Mitsubishi Plastics invited UNStudio to further explore the three-dimensional potential of alpolic, a lightweight but very strong aluminium composite material, and showcase its durable fluoropolymer coating.
To emphasise alpolic’s strength the stand was designed as a self-supporting structure without any additional support.
Designers, which included noted Dutch architect Ben Van Berkel, were influenced by strong shapes found in nature, and drew on the venation of leaves and the catenary lines found in spider webs to create strength and stability in the geometric structure.
The design is based on a single structural element which is mirrored and rotates in several directions, resulting in a variety of different spaces, including semi-enclosed areas where more intimate gatherings took place and visitors could go to receive further information.
The design also featured cone-shaped spaces that display either the front of the material with its coated panels or the untreated back, revealing its structural ribbons.
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