envilaĝo

envilaĝo is a modular event architecture developed for the SoliPolis Festival for the Solidary City in Hamburg’s Veddel district. Conceived as an open and accessible gathering space, the project aimed to create a venue free from religious or exclusive symbolism. While the festival was centered around the deconsecrated Immanuelkirche, the design responded to the diverse cultural and religious backgrounds of the local community by offering a threshold-free spatial alternative.
The lightweight structure was designed as a mobile and reconfigurable assembly space that could be erected and dismantled multiple times. Its spatial typologies included a hall, a pavilion, and a small tower used for announcements and orientation within the festival grounds. The name envilaĝo — Esperanto for “in the village” — refers to the atmosphere of Veddel as a close-knit urban community.
Due to the requirements for certified temporary buildings, the construction had to comply with strict structural standards. A formal structural assessment for “flying buildings” shaped many aspects of the design, resulting in a robust yet adaptable timber system. Large structural elements were prefabricated in a carpentry workshop before being assembled on site over thirteen days together with the festival team and local residents.
During the festival, the pavilion hosted workshops, film screenings, and discussions on the idea of the solidary city. After its initial installation, the structure continued its mobile life throughout 2019, being reassembled at several events across Hamburg — including the Architectural Summer at Kraftwerk Bille, the Right to the City Summit at the fux eG Kaserne, Hopfenmarkt in Hamburg’s Altstadt, and the Skandalös Festival, where it functioned as a radio station and social meeting point at the centre of the site.