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Komorebi Pavilion
CHART Architecture Festival, Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, Denmark
2023
2023
Komorebi Pavilion was designed by Izabella Banaś, Joanna Maria Lesna and Paola Gonzalez Marquez as part of the CHART Architecture competition, which challenged emerging architects to explore the principles of sustainability, inclusivity and the New European Bauhaus. Constructed from reclaimed glass bottles and a lightweight steel framework, the pavilion transformed discarded everyday objects into an immersive architectural installation inspired by komorebi — the Japanese term describing sunlight filtering through trees.
I was responsible for the structural engineering of the pavilion, working closely with the design team to develop a lightweight, transportable and easily assembled structure capable of supporting over 750 reused glass bottles. The pavilion was conceived as three prefabricated steel modules composed of welded reinforcement mesh and steel frames, allowing rapid assembly while providing the robustness required for a public installation.
A key aspect of the project was balancing structural efficiency with reusability. The engineering strategy enabled every bottle to be individually removed, replaced and reused without damaging either the glass elements or the supporting structure. This approach reinforced the project's ambition to demonstrate how circular design principles can be embedded within architectural installations.
The resulting pavilion created a dynamic play of light, transparency and reflection, transforming ordinary recycled materials into a striking public space. Komorebi demonstrated how architecture, engineering and sustainability can work together to give new value and meaning to everyday objects.
Photo credits: Joanna Maria Lesna and Paola Gonzalez Marquez.
