Location: Chart Art Fair, Copenhagen
Type: Art Fair Entry
Design: Pavilion and Space Design
Team: Oana Maria Paraschiv & Francesca Cirla
Completion: 2017
The IN-SIDE-OUT pavilion is an exploration of the boundaries between private and public, individual and collective, indoors and outdoors. The project reflects the journey of an individual through the urban environment, encouraging participation, observation, and reflection. By flipping the conventional roles of these spaces, the pavilion creates intimate public areas on the outside while turning the interior into a reflective space, blurring the lines between where private ends and public begins.
CONCEPT | The IN-SIDE-OUT pavilion challenges the conventional separation of public and private spaces by turning them "inside out." The exterior of the pavilion mimics an intimate, indoor environment with small, protected seating pockets that invite participants to observe and interact with urban life. Conversely, the interior space reflects an outdoor atmosphere, with gravel flooring and doors serving as playful abstractions of city facades, reminiscent of Copenhagen's Nyhavn.
ARCHITECTURAL AND SPATIAL DESIGN | The pavilion is structured around a coherent grid that emphasizes a rhythmic push-pull dynamic both horizontally and vertically. This modular design allows the pavilion to blend seamlessly into its urban context while remaining permeable and inviting to visitors. As they move through the space, participants are guided on a journey from active involvement to passive observation and reflective contemplation.
SOCIAL INCLUSIVITY | For children, the IN-SIDE-OUT pavilion offers an environment full of discovery and engagement. The playful design of doors and facades, combined with the tactile experience of walking on gravel, transforms the space into an urban playground. Kids can explore the protected outdoor pockets, climb or sit on the recycled materials, and interact with the unconventional use of everyday elements, sparking their imagination. The pavilion encourages a sense of curiosity and wonder as they move between the "inside" and "outside" worlds, teaching them about the fluid boundaries of urban life while providing a space for both action and quiet reflection.
SUSTAINABILITY | The pavilion’s materials, including recycled polycarbonate, found doors, and reused wood and concrete, embody an environmentally responsible approach. By using recycled elements, the pavilion also serves as a statement about the importance of sustainability in urban design.
Ultimately, IN-SIDE-OUT acts as an urban oasis where visitors, both adults and children, can participate in and reflect upon their roles within the broader city context, encouraging an active engagement with urban life.
