Tianmianshang Pavilion

When a space is abstracted to its elementary components, we are given a chance to decompose and re-examine these components on a more fundamental level.

Since mankind adopted the concept of shelter as a tradition, “the threshing floor was a place of work but also a place of gathering, dancing, ritual, and worship” (Elements of Architecture, Rem Koolhaas). From plaza to apartment floors to parliament floor, the idea of floor has been a fundamental symbol for action, be it the more private types or more public types such as a place for negotiation, congregation. Similarly, the roof or ceiling (in this case we’re intentionally obscuring the distinction between the two), is the reciprocal of floor, completing the concept of a sheltered space, and has evolved in recent years to being an envelope for practicality (hidden structural system, HVAC system, false ceiling etc)

When our client approached us with this project, they intended for this to be a space of action and gathering. Approaching the request with its intended abstractedness, we want to challenge the notion of floor, roof/ceiling, interiority and exteriority. The undulating floor and roof/ceiling create various threshold spaces within. Planar permutation of walls and columns makes interiority versus exteriority a little harder to parse. We hope this design becomes a stimulus for an organic formation of partiality from the users towards various subspace within, against the backdrop of a seemingly uniform-in-concept arrangement.

Thanks to the student participants who were with us through the journey, brainstorming and working with us, we had a blast!