The Design Informatics Exhibition Pavilion is a temporary structure installed on George Street, Edinburgh. It was commissioned to showcase cutting-edge research projects during the Digital Entertainment Festival.
Client & Collaboration
The pavilion was commissioned by The University of Edinburgh.
It was designed and built in collaboration with designer-maker Mark Kobine.
Together, the team aligned design research with hands-on making.
Design Intent
From the outset, the pavilion needed to assemble on site in under two days. Therefore, the design prioritised prefabrication, speed, and clarity.
At the same time, the structure had to remain visually distinctive. It needed to compete for attention within the busy festival setting of George Street.
Digital Design Strategy
The project investigated how computational design can support affordable modular construction. To do this, an algorithm was developed to test and generate multiple cellular divisions.
As a result, the design evolved into a self-supporting, lightweight building envelope.
Fabrication & Assembly
Using CNC (Computer Numerical Control) routing, flat timber sheets were precisely cut off-site. These sheets were then pre-assembled in pairs to form structural cassettes.
On site, the cassettes came together quickly to create a double-layered skin. This approach reduced installation time while maintaining structural integrity.
Modularity & Efficiency
Each component followed a repeatable logic. Consequently, the pavilion balanced variation with simplicity.
Because of this system, the structure remained both affordable and adaptable.
Research in Built Form
The pavilion did more than house research. It embodied it. Digital workflows directly shaped the architecture, from algorithmic testing to CNC fabrication.
In this way, the pavilion became a full-scale prototype for data-informed design.
Outcome
The completed pavilion offered a clear, legible space for exhibiting research projects. At the same time, it demonstrated how digital tools can translate quickly into built form.
Ultimately, the project shows how temporary architecture can act as both infrastructure and experiment.
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