Volta Pavilion

Created for Amoako Boafo’s painting Papillon Hug, the Volta Pavilion is a site-specific architectural installation that explores the relationship between material, identity, and environment. Exhibited at the Belvedere Museum in Vienna, the pavilion is built entirely from timber sourced from a submerged forest in Ghana’s Volta River—an ecological choice that preserves standing forests while honoring the latent value of overlooked materials.

Crafted from kane (Anogeissus leiocarpus), a rarely used hardwood, the structure celebrates the raw tactility and natural variation of each plank. No mechanical fixings or substructure were used. Instead, the pavilion relies entirely on traditional joinery and the folded geometry of the walls for stability—showcasing how material intelligence can replace industrial technique. With a wall thickness of just 2cm, the pavilion achieves remarkable delicacy and strength.

Designed to host Boafo’s vibrant reflections on identity, the pavilion forms an intimate, porous enclosure that resonates with the artwork it frames. Fabricated in Ghana by local master carpenters, the pavilion reflects the architect’s ongoing commitment to climate-conscious design, local knowledge, and spatial storytelling.

Architects: Juergen Strohmayer and Glenn DeRoché

Location: Vienna, Austria / Program: Art pavilion / Year: 2024 / Client: Belvedere Museum / Structural engineer: Bollinger + Grohmann / Lighting: Steensen Varming / Main contractor: SDPS Ghana / Photography: Julien Lanoo / Sponsors: Amoako Boafo Studio, DeRoche Strohmayer, Mariane Ibrahim Gallery, Österreichische Galerie Belvedere, Bollinger + Grohmann