Experimental Oregon Pavilion Reimagines Mass Timber Beyond Rectilinear Logic

This article spotlights a groundbreaking pavilion created for the Mass Timber Conference in Portland, Oregon, by US studio Lake Flato and engineering firm Structurecraft. It highlights the use of dowel-laminated timber (DLT) and a bending-active shell strategy that challenges conventional mass timber forms.

The project demonstrates how flat-pack slats can become curved, structurally efficient shells on site.

A pioneering approach to mass timber: DLT and bending-active shells

DLT, or dowel-laminated timber, is a timber connection technology that originated in Germany during the 1970s and 1980s. In recent years, it has gained popularity in the United States as an alternative to glued- and cross-laminated timber products.

The main idea is simple: hardwood dowels bind softwood slats through friction, removing the need for nails and glue. This reduces environmental impact and delivers reliable performance.

For the Portland pavilion, the team explored a bending-active shell system. This approach bends flat panels into curved forms that are structurally efficient without heavy materials or complex joinery.

A proprietary dowel model enabled a 20-by-30-foot pavilion built from standard two-by-four slats. The slats were shipped flat and assembled on site.

Once erected, the panels formed a wavy wall that could be slotted into ceiling tracks. This created a smooth, organic enclosure that serves as both a sculpture and a structural system.

How DLT works and why it matters

DLT gains strength from the friction between hardwood dowels and softwood slats, with no nails or glue. This method lowers installation complexity, reduces embodied energy, and allows for quick on-site assembly.

These advantages are especially useful for temporary or mobile installations like conference pavilions. The Oregon project shows that standard lumber can be transformed into lightweight structures through precise detailing and fabrication.

The prototype used a dedicated dowel model to create a pavilion that ships flat and becomes a curved shell on site. This scalable concept could influence future mass timber projects as codes evolve and designers seek adaptable forms.

Structural strategy: bending-active shells and curved forms

Structurecraft’s engineering centers on a bending-active shell philosophy, where flat panels shape curved surfaces. The team describes this as a first in timber construction, using motion and geometry to increase rigidity without heavy framing or metal cladding.

The pavilion’s walls act like fabric in tension and compression, allowing graceful drapery while keeping structural integrity. On the construction side, the wavy walls were slotted into pre-routed ceiling tracks.

Straps and plywood were layered on top of the ceiling to add stiffness. This panel-to-track system, combined with reinforcement, shows a practical way to build bending-active forms from modular timber parts.

The project also includes an outward-swinging door and a fabric-like drape that locks into rigidity when set up. This shows how form and function can work together in a lightweight timber system.

Fabrication, assembly, and on-site behavior

With flat-packed panels, the assembly process relies on precision on site. Lake Flato and Structurecraft show that complex shapes are possible with standard lumber and simple assembly, as long as routing, dowel placement, and track connections are well designed.

The pavilion’s curves are both aesthetic and functional, improving load paths and letting visitors experience timber physics firsthand.

Biophilic design and the public encounter

Beyond engineering, the team sees the pavilion as a biophilic gesture—an architectural move that reconnects people with natural materials and tactile experiences. The slatted timber walls invite touch and curiosity, offering a clear demonstration of physics in action.

Lake Flato’s design aims to show audiences how scalable timber technology can be used in future projects. In the changing world of mass timber, this pavilion joins other notable projects that reflect progress in codes and architectural ambition.

Projects like Studio Gang’s Harvard building and Grafton Architects’ Arkansas project are examples of this movement. They highlight the shift toward flexible, high-performance timber architectures that address climate and sustainability needs.

Takeaways: implications for the future of mass timber

• DLT offers a glue- and nail-free pathway to strong, sustainable timber assemblies using standard lumber stock.
• Bending-active shells unlock curved geometries and improved structural efficiency without heavy framing.
• Flat-pack to on-site shell workflows enable rapid, modular construction. This approach has potential for scalability beyond temporary pavilions.
• Biophilic, tactile experiences connect visitors with the materiality and physics of timber. This supports broader engagement with mass timber technologies.

Building codes are evolving. Designers are pushing for lighter, cleaner environmental footprints.

The Portland pavilion shows how DLT and bending-active timber can converge to shape mass timber architecture.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Experimental pavilion in Oregon “challenges the rectilinear logic” of mass timber