Hasta La Ideas

Different views of a courtyard were framed by this temporary installation in Montpellier, France, by Dutch architecture office Paul Scales and French architecture and design studio Atelier Kit (+ slideshow).

Reframe was constructed in the Rotterdam workshop of Paul Scales and rebuilt in Montpellier with the help of Atelier Kit for the Festival of Living Architecture in June.

The theme of the festival this year was ‘surprise’, so the architects came up with a simple cube design that gradually reveals multiple framed viewpoints.

The installation was built from 45 opal-coloured polycarbonate sheets, a type of plastic often used for outdoor roofing and glazing, and 16 steel plumbing pipes.

The project was made possible by a grant from Stimuleringsfonds voor Architectuur.

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Above photograph is by Pierre Berthelomeau 

Photographs are by Paul Kozlowski, except where otherwise stated.

Here’s some more information about the installation:

Reframe was created by Paul Scales and Atelier Kit for the 7th ‘Festival of Living Architecture’ in Montpellier, France. The festival is comprised of an architectural walking tour through the historic city centre where heritage sites are opened up to modern architecture. This year’s theme was ‘surprise’.

Reframe explores the theme of surprise through the creation of an object that reframes the relation of the visitor to the space, the historic architecture and the other visitors.

What first appears to be a simple modern cube is gradually discovered to be a more complex structure, through which architectural details, elements and facades are continuously revealed, reframed and reflected.

Visitors experience a shift from the position of observer to observed, from control to controlled and willingly or not, become engaged in a game of surprise and being surprised.

Not only a beautiful and interesting way to contrast modern and historic architecture, it also turned out to be very popular with the local kids who discovered that it was also a great object to play in.

Paul Scales constructed Reframe in their Rotterdam Werkshop and together with Atelier Kit rebuilt it in Montpellier for the festival in June 2012. It is now being stored at the Paul Scales Studio and is available for rent or sale.

The project was constructed from 45 sheets of opal-coloured 16 mm multi-wall polycarbonate and 16 steel plumbing pipes.

Above photograph is by Pierre Berthelomeau

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and Atelier Kit appeared first on Dezeen.