‘How to [de]construct the German pavilion’ is a self-contained project dedicated to recycling an existing wooden structure. The construction that initially served as a static and visual feature of the German pavilion (World Garden Exhibition Floriade 2022, Almere,NL) for six months will be available for new projects. The possibility to further transform the pavilion was a requirement from the outset. A focus on sustainability will be at the forefront of future schemes, both during the planning and the implementation, to ensure the development of recyclable structures. We have now succeeded in building on these principles and have carried out a careful and informative deconstruction, providing a good starting point for future projects.

The reuse and repurposing of building materials contradicts, in principle, the tendencies of the consumer-oriented throwaway society, whose industry is intent on generating as many sales as possible. We want to counteract this and are convinced that the recycling of materials, as well as the associated generation and preservation of knowledge, must play a significant role in the future. 

[de]constructlab is an attitude that should allow a [de]construction to be treated as a self-contained project. Regardless of the future use, the focus is on the existing materials and their history. Dealing with the given and a careful and respectful approach to deconstruction is at the forefront.

The networking and the transfer of know-how supports the idea of sustainable construction and helps us in the future planning and rethinking the material. The 30 tonnes of wood are now stored in Kortrijk, Belgium, only a 3 hour drive from Almere. It will also be rebuilt there in the spring of 2025.

Many thanks to all who made this project possible. To the architects of the construction (gtb2 Architekten), Hamburg Messe und Congress and the company responsible for the implementation, kpm3. A special thanks to August Keller from kpm3, who put us in the running for the recycling of the material.

Photo and video credits: Constructlab / Drawing credits: Ana Salom