XENIA PAVILLION

At the Xenia 2020 exhibition in Athens, a compact yet immersive pavilion was designed for The Consquare to showcase the company’s range of glass partition systems and sound absorption panels. Created within a modest footprint of just 21 square metres, the pavilion offered visitors a multi-sensory experience focused on acoustic performance, tactility and spatial clarity.

The central idea behind the pavilion was to create an actual enclosed room using The Consquare’s double-glazed partition system, complete with a swivel glass door, in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the system’s soundproofing in real time. The goal was to offer a very cosy and welcoming experience, in contrast to the harsh and noisy atmosphere typical of a trade fair.

Six square metres of the floor plan were dedicated to this enclosed room. Two of the walls were built using insulated drywall to reinforce acoustic isolation, while the other two showcased the brand’s signature glass partitioning system. Inside the enclosed area suspended felt baffles enhanced the acoustic performance. Wood-effect vinyl flooring was deliberately selected, as a worst-case scenario material acoustically, further underlining the effectiveness of the wall and ceiling systems. The material palette echoed the feeling of a real interior space. The structural walls and ceiling were built from drywall with insulation, simulating an office-like environment. The floor used two materials to reinforce the zoning: carpet tiles in the open display area, and vinyl flooring inside the enclosed room. The drywall surfaces were painted in the company’s RAL brand blue, while the aluminium frames of the partitioning system were finished in a lighter branded blue tone.

Despite the tight budget and floor plan constraints, the pavilion’s compact form and bold colour blocking helped it stand out in the exhibition space. Visitors responded enthusiastically to both the design and the acoustic demonstration, with the enclosed room successfully fulfilling its purpose and drawing interest throughout the event. The remainder of the space served as a small open gallery and meeting point. One of the main features was a gallery-style display wall presenting a variety of acoustic felt panels in different colours, arranged carefully to reflect The Consquare’s brand identity, in blue tones with accents of red. These were positioned at a height that encouraged physical interaction, allowing visitors to touch the panels and engage with their texture. Below this display wall, a long, integrated cabinet housed brochures, material samples and storage, while a high table with stools in the centre of the open area created a casual spot for conversation between visitors and sales staff. Lighting played a crucial role in shaping the visitor experience. Directional lighting in a warm colour temperature helped distinguish the pavilion from the colder, more generic lighting of the surrounding exhibition hall, giving the space a welcoming and human feel.

This project reflects a broader interest in working with small, constrained spaces and finding ways to make them fully functional. In this case, the pavilion had no specific locational identity, it was designed to be self-contained and flexible, able to exist in any setting. The real challenge lay in responding to an uninspiring exhibition context while still creating an experiential and immersive environment.

Type: Xenia Exhibition Pavilion

Area: 21m²

Year of Completion: 2020

Location: Spata, Athens