Tottenham Art Manifesto

By Architects Ekaterina Ugriumova and Maxim Polansky

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Connection to Harringay Warehouse District

The pavilion is designed to tell about the values and potential of the authentic artistic district in understandable to London metropolis language of modern architecture.
It is a Manifesto of the community, expressed through form, function and material. With colors and volumes it celebrates unity in diversity and freedom of artistic expression. Its agility symbolizes creativity that isn’t idle, but boils and spreads. Its being manually assembled refers to continuity in the district manufacturing history.
The pavilion is a miniature model of the district blurring boundaries and becoming an open-air area filled with creative activities attracting local residents and guests.

Proposal Outline

Architecture of the pavilion deliberately differs from existing buildings in the district. It stands out for its brightness, color and form, at the same time harmoniously combining with the surroundings. It reflects versatility and complexity of creative persons, their often being inconsistent with standards, together with their having subtle perception and understanding of the environment.
The pavilion form is compact; its area in assembled state is 255 m².
However, it has exceptional opportunities of agility and transformation. Depending on scenario, the pavilion can expand its boundaries over the entire territory and even – with its mobile elements – beyond it.
Up to ten events can be held simultaneously in the pavilion, and thanks to the various possibilities of transformation and organization of open and closed spaces, they will not interfere with each other.
The ground level of the pavilion is completely open and permeable; on the contrary, the upper one with its closed perimeter is more private.
AMPHITHEATER is a solid two-sided structure built manually from gas concrete blocks, and then a tunnel is cut in its central part. Sliding plywood partitions on its sides can be pushed or extended in various combinations and form closed, open and semi-open event spaces around the amphitheater.
CINEMA TUNNEL cut in the core of the amphitheater is equipped with a seat and a sloping wall that provides surface for projecting video content with portable devices.
MOBILE MODULES of two types form a compact block. Each module when folded is a rectangular plywood box with handles and wheels. When unfolded, Type 1 becomes a fairground counter or an art easel, and Type 2 becomes a large table for master classes or other events, and eight chairs. In the market scenario these modules would extend the pavilion far over its site.
BAR cylindrical block with sliding doors is lined with metal profiled sheeting. It also has spaces for WCs and optional placement of electric elevator for disabled people.
UPPER LEVEL is being reached via the steps of the amphitheater. It’s a clean plane divided into two halves by the entrance opening. The space hosts yoga classes, dance workshops and performances, meditations, etc.
FACADE of the pavilion is assembled from polycarbonate elements of six types. They are cut with no waste from solid polycarbonate sheet, then bent and fastened together through the grooves, forming a self-supporting structure together with the wooden frame of the upper level.
AWNING ROOF is completely transformable and can be opened or closed as a current scenario requires.
As the pavilion is assembled from small piece elements, all building works are easy to maintain manually. The process of creating the pavilion with their own hands by the district residents and volunteers would become a landmark event and unite and reinforce the community.
The pavilion is built completely from eco-friendly recyclable materials, and does not use technologies that affect the nature negatively, and thus the construction of the pavilion reflects modern high level of responsibility of the community to society and the environment.