There are five new buildings at the foot of The Mound. But don’t worry, they are only there temporarily. The Mound Square is now transformed into a village of city pavilions until 17 July with Pop-Up Cities Expo, a headline event of the Festival of Architecture all part of the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design.
The Lord Provost the Rt Hon Donald Wilson formally opened the exhibition earlier this evening.
The Lord Provost said: ” I think this is a fantastic, innovative exhibition. They are all incredibly different and the sheer contrast between all the pavilions is going to get everyone thinking. This was Speakers’ Corner and so to have a people centred exhibition here is quite appropriate.
“We are standing in one of the greatest architectural cities in the world, with its New Town and Old Town just a stone’s throw from here.”
With that the Lord Provost cut the ribbon to officially open the Expo.
Final event of the day for @LordProvostEdin pic.twitter.com/Y4YislVlxG
— Edinburgh Reporter (@EdinReporter) June 20, 2016
The 5 metres square city pavilions represent the five cities of Bergen, Dundee, Rotterdam, Vilnius and host city Edinburgh. They are all very different and the more time you are able to spend in them the more details you will notice.
The event is free to the public and open from 10am – 10pm daily.
Leading the way, Edinburgh invited architects to compete for the Edinburgh pavilion, with the winning submission designed by Konishi Gaffney Architects. This is called Window on Edinburgh, and it is only when you are inside that you will see the views of Edinburgh’s skyline.
Dundee’s pavilion was designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates. The Tokyo-based architect’s V&A Museum of Design is currently under construction at its site on the new Dundee waterfront. This temporary pop-up structure will be the first-ever Kengo Kuma building to be completed in the UK.
The exhibition builds on the universal success of temporary pavilions and the popularity of present-day pop-ups. Curator Neil Baxter, CEO of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) was inspired by the pop-up villages in Budapest and has carefully chosen some of Europe’s most progressive cities to take part. Architects have risen to the challenge of creating innovative and engaging pop-up designs that will capture the public’s imagination.
Festival of Architecture 2016 is a year-long, Scotland-wide celebration of Scotland’s fantastic built environment. Over the year there are over 400 events planned and to date over 350,000 people have attended a Festival event.
Pop-up cities at The Mound from tomorrow Free entry from 10am to 10pm pic.twitter.com/FZBOsKeEoR
— Edinburgh Reporter (@EdinReporter) June 20, 2016
Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs said: “The RIAS Festival of Architecture is an important element of Scotland’s Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design celebrations.
“As well as celebrating Scottish achievement, the Year will explore new, emerging ideas on architecture and design and lets us share these with our International counterparts. The Pop-Up Cities exhibition will communicate innovative ideas to the public in interesting ways, capturing the public’s imagination.”
Neil Baxter, CEO of RIAS said: “The Festival of Architecture 2016, like Scotland itself, is international in its outlook. We are delighted to welcome three European cities and architects from five nations to participate in our outdoor summer show in the Capital. These pavilions are superb works of architecture, all very different and all reflective of the very best of contemporary international design. Now please bring on the sun!”
Cllr Ian Perry, Convener of the Planning Committee, the City of Edinburgh Council, said:
“Edinburgh is well known internationally for its iconic skyline and architecture and I am delighted we are hosting this prestigious event. I would encourage everyone to go along and see the pavilions on display. I am delighted that Konishi Gaffney, an Edinburgh architect, is promoting innovative design from this city alongside that from other participating cities.”
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