SMALL IS MORE. Wooden Pavilion As a Path of Research

Several shelters have been recently developed by Politecnico di Milano for different purposes but with a common character: smallness. Small is More shows how workshops with students can be extremely efficient and productive on real targets and how materiality is important to learn and step over any parametric approach. Of course, parametric tools can be very useful to manage the design phase and optioneering strategies but, in the end, only real built structure unveils the power of architecture. The paper will show some of these examples where Smallness can be of great effect: Akragashelter in Agrigento—Valle dei Templi (UNESCO Workshop), with a structure in gabion-wall, the roof in fir wood, and parametric design; C-ASA, Active House Shelter in Lecco (Politecnico di Milano ASA Workshop), with CLT structure, aerospace thermo-reflective insulations, and zinc-titanium outer skin; Equilatera, the social Shelter in Favara (FARM Cultural Park), digitally designed, with recycled CLT wasted studs for the structure; Teagloo, in Tokyo with Kengo Kuma Lab (The University of Tokyo), digital designed structure in sushi bamboo baskets, with FRP reinforcements; Veneer House, in VIS (Croatia) with Prof. Hiroto Kobayashi and KOBAYASHI MAKI DESIGN WORKSHOP (Keio University, Tokyo). The learning process has been thought with real targets for social purpose and students have participated in designing real case studies, which are now still in full function.