How do you safely sculpt 400 steel barrels into art?

That was the challenge faced when we were asked by architects raumlabor to provide a simple structural solution for the unconventional ‘Temple of no Shopping ‘ pavilion which they wanted to assemble from more than 400 recycled steel barrels.

To achieve their vision, we analysed the structure through simplified 2-D models, and 3-D analysis of the most heavily stressed barrel to barrel connections. The result was an entirely self-supporting and asymmetrical structure, where the stability and strength is achieved by bolting the barrels together along vertical connection lines. Each connection was then stiffened by chamfered steel flats distributing the locally high loads and acting like washers.

“It was really inspiring to work on such a unconventional structure, especially as it has the power to send a strong message to society.”
Daniia Iaksubaeva, graduate structural engineer

So what is the purpose of this structure?

Temple of no Shopping’ is a new temporary pavilion for the Neues Museum in Nuremberg, designed by the Berlin based architects raumlabor. The pavilion aims to increase awareness about the impact and dominance of long distance shipping and transportation in a modern globalised society. The pavilion forms part of the current WEtransFORM exhibition at the Neues Museum, an exhibition where a number of designers and artists investigate the current state and global scope of our ecological footprint.

The ‘Temple of No Shopping’ structure will be on display until mid-September 2016 before being carefully deconstructed and reassembled at a second location.