wooden nautilus

Commissioned for the 85th edition of the Libramont Fair, the Nautile Sylvestre is an experimental timber pavilion developed in collaboration with ArtBuild. The project emerged from early research initiated through Louise Deguine’s graduation thesis and later further developed within the practice.

The pavilion explores the structural potential of timber through the use of the lattice hinge cold-bending process, marking one of the first structural applications of cold-bent CLT panels at this scale.

The design combines parametric modeling with advanced digital fabrication techniques derived from complex timber construction methods. CLT panels were fabricated and transported flat before being bent directly on site, enabling a highly controlled assembly process while reducing transportation constraints.

A central challenge of the project was to achieve a continuous curved geometry while minimizing visible connections and preserving the fluidity of the structure. The staircase elements initiate the structural tensioning process, while custom steel plates positioned at the top and base of each panel progressively guide the bending of the timber shell.

Designed as an elevated exhibition space overlooking the fairgrounds, the pavilion transforms the structural behavior of curved timber into a fully immersive architectural experience. Structure, material, and form become inseparable, creating a spatial atmosphere defined by lightness, continuity, and the sensory qualities of wood.