Aug 28 2007
The Artek Pavilion designed by Shigeru Ban, first presented in Milan International Furniture Fair in spring 2007, has now been reconstructed in Helsinki.
The Pavilion, which opens for visitors on the Night of the Arts, is a joint venture of UPM, Artek, Designmuseum and the Museum of Finnish Architecture. The Pavilion is an excellent example of environmental responsibility applied to visual design.
Architectural design and new material meet in the Pavilion. Construction material used is wood-plastic composite, a product innovation developed by UPM. This new, unique material combines the best qualities of wood fibre and plastic. The principle raw material of this product, UPM ProFi, is paper and plastic, surplus from UPM's self-adhesive label materials production. The product is environmentally friendly and it can be recycled.
The Pavilion, experienced by the public for the first time in Milan Triennale Park last spring, is an excellent example of new, innovative ways to use wood raw material. "The story this Pavilion tells is what is possible when you combine architectural design, material technology and courage to try something new", says Mr Markku Koivisto, Director of UPM Corporate Venturing.