The Boston Harbor Islands Pavilion was designed to raise awareness of the nearby Boston Harbor Islands—a natural resource that is only a twenty-minute boat ride from Downtown Boston. Two sculptural roof canopies define the pavilion and provide spatial definition and protection for two kiosks, a large-scale map of the islands incised into the pavement, and a permanent exhibit that highlights the rich historical and ecological diversity of the archipelago. The open-air pavilion is staffed by National Park Service rangers and personnel from the Boston Harbor Island Alliance, the Park Service’s non-profit partner.
The pavilion was located and shaped by carefully studying the structure from a variety of vantage points using a digital model that included the surrounding urban context. The pavilion roofs guide rainwater from the structures into a catch basin, which then guides stormwater into an irrigation system for the adjacent lawn.
Utile also designed the exhibition panels at the pavilion, which feature the photography of Thad Russell.
Photo credit: Chuck Choi