Design Studio Pavilion Project (Updated)

Presentation is present here: Pavilion

The main principles I decided to follow in building a pavilion were:

• Shelters a person from the elements
• Facilitates socializing
• Relieves stress, increases calmness

My first design was made to facilitate learning of different cultures, positioned within an outdoor museum. This pavilion, although not small, allows an audience to see many different kinds of architecture from different parts of the globe. However, due to its immense scale, this design could not be incorporated into the ISB campus, as a result, not being selected as the final design.

I took inspiration for this design from Mongolian yurts, French chateaus, and Japanese shrines. The overall concept of having an outdoor exhibit came from Swedish open air museums.

The second design was constructed for libraries, a building positioned outside with open interiors that both sheltered its inhabitants and facilitated socializing. This building incorporated Tibetan, Khmer, and South-eastern Chinese architecture. However, since this deviated from pavilion design, and wasn’t a candidate to be a final design. In addition, this building would fit poorly onto the school campus, as it dominates a large area of space, and blocks a large amount of sunlight.

This final design was a candidate for the scale model since it followed all the criteria I stated previously. The pavilion was constructed to facilitate social interaction, provide shelter, and also serenity. The open spaces and (although not illustrated in this picture) trees, give a natural shade, contrasting the concrete and steel of its surroundings, putting those below at ease, increasing their relaxation.

I took inspiration from the Temple of Heaven and Temple of the Earth here in Beijing, which include elevated platforms/podiums in which people would hold ceremonies and speeches. The main pagoda also took inspiration from the Vault of treasures in the Temple of Heaven. The overall concept took inspiration from the Agora, a descendant of the famous Library of Alexandria, where the great thinkers of the time held debates, lectures, speeches, and held experiments, but also where they and their students lived and relaxed in, and where books and events were held.

This is the scale model I made for my design.

Bellow is the feedback I received from students on my work.

As following the feedback I received, the pavilion is built primarily of wood and stone, very traditional materials, which were specifically picked because they contrast with the bustling metropolitan landscape, letting students escape to a more simple and familiar place. In addition, wood and stone help people feel more in touch with nature, which is a principle often followed by Chinese and Japanese architecture, and often ignored in our present age with the use of concrete, glass, and steel.

Wood and stone will not break because they are tried and tested materials, which with some paint and ceramic roof tiles, should stand against the elements. Although this pavilion would likely be successful in its design, it certainly won’t be cheap, most likely too much to afford for this school.

This pavilion will be positioned in the high school courtyard, outside the middle school / high school library. I chose this location because it’s both the closest to the students inside the main building, and also far enough away from the streets that they can enjoy relative silence.

The Pavilion is positioned here at the 7: