ReUmbrella Pavilion

Faculty of Fine Arts, Alexandria University in Alexandria

Project idea

ReUmbrella Pavilion is an eco-friendly, temporary architectural installation that celebrates reuse, creativity, and community. Crafted from discarded PVC pipes and reclaimed umbrellas, the pavilion transforms waste into a vibrant shelter that engages the senses and offers relief from the summer sun. It’s a bold statement in sustainable design—lightweight, modular, and entirely made from repurposed materials.

Project description

Sustainability Highlights:

100% Reused Materials: Core components include salvaged PVC pipes and discarded umbrellas.

Zero Permanent Fixings: The entire structure is bolt-free and easy to disassemble, promoting circular use and easy transport.

Rainwater Strategy Umbrellas can be angled to direct rainwater into PVC guttering, allowing for collection and reuse in nearby landscaping.

Low Carbon Footprint: Minimal energy and resources are used in fabrication, as materials are pre-existing and locally sourced.


Aesthetic and Experience:
ReUmbrella is joyful, inviting, and visually rich. The overlapping umbrellas create a lively tapestry of colors and light, constantly changing with the weather and sun.

Technical information

Structure:
The structural framework is composed of reused PVC pipes salvaged from construction and plumbing waste. These pipes are reconfigured into a modular grid , using simple, non-permanent connections to allow for disassembly and reuse. The form can adapt to various scales—from a small community shade pod to a larger event canopy—offering flexibility in both size and layout.

Shade System – Umbrella Canopy:
The roofscape is formed from reused umbrellas, each uniquely colored and patterned, creating a patchwork canopy that is playful and functional. Mounted upside-down , the umbrellas provide dappled shade while casting vibrant, mosaic-like shadows onto the ground below. In the spirit of reuse, each umbrella retains its original form, preserving its identity while contributing to a
unified whole.



For the maquette of the ReUmbrella Pavilion, the design will be scaled down using accessible, everyday materials that mimic the structure and appearance of the original components. The PVC pipe framework will be represented using BBQ wooden sticks, cut and connected to form the skeletal frame of the pavilion. These sticks will be assembled using glue, wire, or small connector joints to reflect the modular construction system. For the canopy, miniature cocktail umbrellas (juice umbrella toothpicks) will be used to replicate the full-sized reused umbrellas, preserving their vibrant, playful aesthetic. These small umbrellas will be opened and attached to the straw structure in overlapping layers, mimicking the original shading system and demonstrating how the final pavilion filters light and creates shade. This maquette serves as a conceptual and visual translation of the full-scale design, showcasing its structural logic and artistic intent.