Ephemeral Pavilion Architecture CLT | Circular: Inner Horizons by Sanber Studio

Architecture as a Pathway, Not a Destination

The concept of utopia is often misunderstood as a static goal. Inspired by Eduardo Galeano’s reflection on walking toward an ever-receding horizon, Circular: Horizontes Interiores addresses space not as a finalized monument, but as a continuous journey.

Designed for the Biennial in Vitoria’s historic Plaza de la Virgen Blanca, the pavilion stands as a respectful gesture within a heritage context. Its quiet circular geometry honors the scale of the public square, offering an invitation to pause. Rather than imposing an artificial form onto the city, the structure creates a quiet threshold where urban life slows down, shifting from collective movement to individual contemplation.

The Philosophy of the Spatial Envelope

At Sanber Studio, our approach to Integrated Architectural Interiorism dictates that the envelope, light, and interior flow are conceived as a single entity. Inside Circular, the traditional spatial grid is dismantled.

Fluid timber partitions guide visitors through a maze of soft curves. As people walk through the interior, integrated seating carved directly into the walls invites them to rest. Overhead, a specular surface reflects both the movement of the visitors and the surrounding historic skyline. The ceiling becomes an inverted sky, reminding the occupant that the true horizon of architecture is internal.

Material Honesty and Digital Craftsmanship

The construction process reflects the same discipline as our permanent projects. True luxury in architecture lies in precision, resource consciousness, and material integrity.

• Layered Timber Structure: The organic walls are constructed from Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT), digitally cut with laser precision to achieve fluid geometry with zero material waste. The warm grain of the wood provides natural acoustic damping, insulating the interior from the city noise.

• Tectonic Overhead Grid: The ceiling relies on a modular grid of timber beams, providing structural stability while supporting the reflective panels that define the sensory experience.

• Reclaimed Integrity: Conceived through a circular life cycle, the pavilion uses dry joints and pre-assembled components. Every piece of timber and paneling can be dismantled and relocated without leaving a trace on the historic stone paving beneath.

Spatial Integrity from Madrid to the World

Circular: Horizontes Interiores demonstrates how ephemeral interventions can carry the same spatial weight, emotional warmth, and technical rigor as permanent structures. Through careful material selection and strategic layout planning, architecture becomes a tool to connect people with their environment and themselves.

Impeccable. Intentional. Madrid and beyond.