The Thin-shell Metal Woven Pavilion is located over a pool. It is a place to rest, a shelter for wind and sun, but also allowing natural light to penetrate the interior space.
Conventionally, a pavilion, with a structure of 11 by 8 meters span, must have an extraordinarily strong supporting foundation.
We propose a new concept to imitate the nesting of birds in nature with a keel-free design. The concept will be realized through a curvy structure so that only a thin surface is needed for the load-bearing task. To achieve a 4400 times span only 2 layers of 2.5 mm thick metal plates were applied, based on the calculation of wind loads and gravity loads. Its mechanics are simple as vaulted buildings in ancient times and the eggshells of birds in nature.
This is a welding-free construction. Instead, from the foundation to the main volume, the bolts are employed for point-to-point seams. The advantage of such a technique is that each bolt is digitally designed and endorsed to ensure the accuracy of the final form, thus avoiding the form-finding errors associated with the conventional manual welding process. Benefiting from the flexibility of bolts, parts or even the entire structure can be replaced or moved to enhance sustainability. First assembled in 2020, the pavilion was relocated and reconstructed two years later due to project requirements, and finally completed in 2023. From this perspective, it also achieves temporal continuity and permanence.
Step inside, you will pass through a sunken passage below the pool. The human perception is brought closer to the water surface. This journey will bring forth and enhance your connection to nature. Wandering inside, you will experience the sensation of the walls and the dome. It is a metaphor of surrounded by the mountain and the sea, a feeling of returning to the silence and profoundness.
Openings left by the dual interfaces, form dynamic layers of light that echo the structure on the dome. The light choreography inside the pavilion transcends the static ambience - a cycle that changes with the course of sunlight and cloud gloom.
Both color finishes were carefully chosen. The exterior is white. This pure appearance embraced its reflection on the water. However, the Interior is matt brown-gold. The low brightness and reflection of the internal space allow an immersive experience as if exploring in a deep cave, which led you to a deep experience of calm. The whole arrangement of the Thin Shell Nest Pavilion helps to draw you further into a contemplative state.
View Original