Wood-plastic pavilion used in Helsinki festival

An exhibition pavilion made from a wood-plastic composite material and designed by top architect Shigeru Ban has been reconstructed in Helsinki.

The Arek pavilion was first erected in Milan for the city’s International Furniture Fair last spring and acted as a showcase for UPM’s ProFi composite material.

The pavilion was moved to Helsinki for the Night of the Arts, one of the highlights of the annual Helsinki Festival when galleries, libraries and bookstores open their doors until late and more than 100 events are held throughout the city.

UPM, furnishing systems company Artek, Designmuseum and the Museum of Finnish Architecture all combined to make the pavilion a part of the event.

“The story this pavilion tells is what is possible when you combine architectural design, material technology and courage to try something new,” said Markku Koivisto, director of UPM corporate venturing.