Duplantier Volunteer Pavilion

New Orleans, LA, United States

Add To Collection

Other Projects by STUDIO Mike McKay

Add To Collection

Singularities

Duplantier Volunteer Pavilion

New Orleans, LA, United States

Firm

STUDIO Mike McKay

Type

Cultural › Pavilion
Landscape + Planning › Public Park

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2010

The New Orleans Botanical Gardens in City Park

The Duplantier Volunteer Pavilion is located in the New Orleans Botanical Garden in City Park. After the devastating storms of 2005 a number Cypress trees in City Park were uprooted. This pavilion was constructed as result of these fallen trees.

The pavilion is conceived of as six identical modules that are aggregated across the site. The modules are either grouped or pulled apart to accommodate existing site conditions….trees, root systems, site restrictions, etc. The ‘sliding’ of each individual module allows for a formal variability within a rigid system and maximizes use of the site without building to its extents.

The aggregation of each cypress slat allowed for maximum efficiency of the material affect. Identical in size and detail, the slats are aggregated to form a rhythmic light screen that would create a patterning of light over the course of the day. The screen ‘wraps’ each structural steel module to create an enclosure for the pavilion that still allows for flows of air and view.

The public ‘facade’ of the pavilion incorporates a freestanding unit that houses storage cabinets and a work surface, and employs a translucent polycarbonate wall. This wall is lit from within and changes according to events that take place within the garden

CREDITS:
Adrian and Sally Duplantier Family.
Paul Soniat, Director_The New Orleans Botanical Garden in City Park.
Richard Jacobs_Steel Fabrication.
Paddison Construction _Contractor.
Royal Benetrix_Electrical.
Frank Doering_Photography

MATERIAL DONATION:
Frank Vallot_ Acadian Hardwoods for milling and treating the Cypress.
Kevin Smith_ Exetech for the polycabonate wall.
Jody Turin_ Gallina for the roof system.