The ephemeral Pavilion d’Eau, designed by Alexander Wolhoff, was built on the Lake Geneva in 2017. This was the result of six months of research, prototyping and coordination with different local organizations, a month of production and just two days of assembly.
The pavilion was comprised of materials including lake stones, wood, and ceramic tiles to ensure a minimal and reversible impact on the site. A project designed to touch the landscape lightly, not affecting the natural lake bed. The inside, which is only visible within the water, was built with 150 handmade tiles whose thickness of the tiles varied between 1.3 and 2mm. The inward surface of each tile made up the inner dome was glazed with navy blue. So that its crystallized relief seemed to adopt liquid movements that are in dialogue with the mountainous and the half liquid, upon which it stood.
In short, the whole technical and logistical proposal was an achievement born out of the collaboration between the École Polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and the Haute école d’art et de design – Genève (HEAD). More particularly between the laboratories ALICE and LHT3, the Center for Experimentation and Realisation in Contemporary Ceramics and the municipality of Saint Saphorin.
All Photos and Drawings credited to Alexander Wolhoff
