For the construction on the pavilion the researchers used two different types of particles: spherical, inflatable units that are used as a removable formwork, and interlocking hexapod and decapod star-shaped units custom-made from recycled plastics. Both types can of course be re‐used as they are not bound to each other ( the pavilion’s particles had in fact been deployed in several test projects beforehand).

The pavilion, which is 7 metres long by 5 metres wide and has a height of 3 metres, consists of about 120,000 white, star-shaped granules that form two interconnected vaults. The particles were poured in-situ, as all structures made from unbound aggregate particles have to be, by a cable-driven, parallel robot that was custom‐made for the project. Using the inflatable yellow spheres to define the internal void and the particles’ storage boxes to delineate the pavilion’s boundaries - a sustainability exemplar where even the packaging is multi-purposely reused - the particles were unloaded by the robot in precisely defined depositions, made possible by a custom‐written interface which continually checked the geometric accuracy of the structure using image segregation. The end result of this intricately choreographed construction process is a crystalline structure whose ethereal appearance belies its structural integrity. 

The expeditious nature of the process in conjunction with the exclusive use of light-weight components, the boxes they came in, and a portable robot, makes this kind of architecture ideal for temporary structures such as those used for commercial and recreational purposes as well as disaster relief. A paradigm for both recycling and reuse of materials, the ICD Aggregate Pavilion 2018 proves that at the confluence of science and architecture, design can embrace both sustainability and beauty.