Airnemone Pavilion: A Revolution in Interactive Exhibition Design

Kevin Chu's Award-Winning Design Merges Art, Innovation, and Environmental Consciousness

Chu's inspiration for the Airnemone Pavilion stemmed from a desire to create an exhibition booth that did not alienate its design from the product it was featuring. He sought to incorporate interactive elements into the design, allowing visitors to engage with the pavilion, much like clownfish playing in a sea anemone. This inspiration led to the creation of a pavilion that "floats" like a sea anemone, inviting visitors to explore and manipulate the design.

The Airnemone Pavilion stands out for its unique properties. Using thousands of tassel strings as its cladding/partition wall, a decorative idea invented in China over 2000 years ago, Chu has created an entirely moving form dependent on wind and human interaction. The design is constantly changing, drawing visitors in and promoting dialogue. The interlacing of white and blue strings creates a color morphing effect as the strings are blown by the wind, making the whole form practically like a living organism.

The pavilion is realized using lightweight, recyclable tassel strings panel, matt white powder-coated steel frame, BPA free PVC fabric ceiling rope, and anti-gravity plantation pods. The design can be dismantled and reused in different configurations, keeping with the theme of environmentally conscious thinking. This is a testament to Chu's commitment to sustainable design practices.

Chu's design research focused on creating a design that is completely interactive to the environment and user. He aimed to draw children into the design, knowing that once children are attracted, parents will follow. The design was made of very low-cost and lightweight material yet exudes immense creativity once completed. The design "draws" visitors into the booth, creating a unique and engaging experience.

Chu faced several challenges in realizing the Airnemone Pavilion. He wanted to rethink what a corporate exhibition is, prioritize children as the main audience, and create a design that is highly interactive and interesting to all ages. He also wanted a design that is constantly moving by one of the 4 primal elements of our planet, spreading the message on how air is vital to our survival and clean air is something we need to educate our next generation about. Despite these challenges, Chu successfully created a design that is recyclable, interactive, and engaging.

The Airnemone Pavilion was awarded Silver in A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2017, a testament to Chu's innovative design and commitment to sustainability. This design serves as a reminder that our actions are always correlated to our environment's atmosphere and that all materials in the design are recyclable and can be reinstalled in various compositions. It invites everyone to interact with it, reminding us of the importance of clean air and our responsibility towards our planet.