Unknown Works reveals the UK's first external eucalyptus CLT structure.
Designed for disassembly and reuse, Unknown Works unveils The Armadillo - an experimental CLT pavilion.
In celebration of the 2024 London Festival of Architecture and Houghton Arts & Music Festival, The Armadillo by Unknown Works applies new research to CLT construction and the fabrication of temporary structures.
A pioneering timber arts pavilion, The Armadillo opened earlier in the summer at Trinity Buoy Wharf. Responding to the 2024 theme ‘Reimagine’, it extends the opportunities of experimental cross-laminated timber (CLT) architecture to push forward a natural, spatial sound experience.
The pavilion is the result of a collaboration between Unknown Works, Xilonor, ConstruktCLT and Houghton Music & Arts Festival, with the support of Studio Allen, Rothoblaas, ARUP, Charcoalblue, Klimstar and Rubio Monocoat.
The CLT structure was first located at Trinity Buoy Wharf in East London, before relocating to Houghton Music & Arts Festival in Norfolk. The pavilion will remain a permanent stage at the annual cultural event founded by legendary DJ, Craig Richards, at the Houghton Estate.
The Armadillo takes the form of stepped timber arches ascending in size, constructed from 42 prefabricated CLT panels. Designed for disassembly and reuse, the structure facilitates easy repurposing or relocation, minimising waste and maximising its lifespan.
It has also been optimised for natural acoustic amplification without producing sound feedback to performers. The angles of the timber panels project sound outwards, while slender gaps along the tessellating archways are lined with an opaque silicone membrane. The arches are inset with programmable lighting tracks - providing a dynamic multi-sensory arts experience.
The pavilion is the first external structure in the United Kingdom to be made from a new CLT made using eucalyptus timber, developed and manufactured by Xilonor. The material is a highly durable and water repellent alternative to other types of cross-laminated timber which utilise only Spruce or Pine.
Ben Hayes, director at Unknown Works commented on the collaborative efforts behind The Armadillo’s construction; “The Armadillo is the creative culmination of long term partnerships, with fantastic collaborators who continue to innovate in their respective fields.
"We are proud to be working with Houghton Music & Arts Festival to give the Armadillo a long life; relocating the timber structure to a permanent woodland home is a fitting representation of cultural architecture that goes against the grain of the highly wasteful status quo of typical exhibition design.”
