Gernot Riether is using digital design and fabrication techniques to reintroduce plastic as a building material for light-weight and inexpensive structures. The project provides a new aesthetic for environmentally friendly architecture, changing our perception of plastic from an environmentally problematic to a “green” material.

AIA Pavilion

• Architects: Gernot Riether, Georgia Institute of Technology
• Project: Pavilion
• Location: New Orleans
• Client: AIA
• Area: 18m2
• Project Team: Gernot Riether, Valerie Bolen, Rachel Dickey, Emily Finau, TasnouvaHabib, Knox Jolly, Pei-Lin Liao, Keith Smith, April Tann
• Design software used: Rhino, Grasshopper, AlphaCAM
• Material: PETGs (glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate)
• Fabrication:
  • CNC: 25 hours machining time
  • Thermoforming: Techniques used: drape forming, vacuum forming and draping
• Number of pieces: 320
• Portability: The pavilion can be disassembled. The pavilions cells can be stocked and moved with a mini Truck
• Assembly: Bolt connections. Assembly time: 2 days
• Fabricated at: DFL, Digital Fabrication Laboratory at Georgia Institute of Technology
• Special Thanks to: Russell Gentry and Andres Cavieres

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