Pavilion Place @ Orchard

A competition project I did near the end of 2007.

Design Concept is based on 3 principles of Contrast :

(1) Material Contrast
- Steel is commonly perceived as a hard, rigid and robust construction material.
- In this design proposal, and in contrast to that thought, I attempt to portray steel as a light and elegant material with an almost ephemeral quality.
- To do so, the pavilion mimics the nature of a fabric with its soft flowing quality.
- This is achieved by having the individual steel bar placed at different angle on each end of the pavilion. With all the steel members in placed, we will get a parabolic surface.
- The entire pavilion is then anchored on 2 points of each end, with the wall extending to become the roof.
- The end result is that of a light, elegant steel structure that seems to be floating above the ground.
- It defies gravity.

(2) Urban Morphology Contrast
- The 2nd contrast is that of contrasting with the dense Orchard Road urban morphology.
- Being in the heart of this street, the pavilion is fluid response to concrete jungle that towers above it.
- It respects, but not necessarily responds to the contextual element that surrounds it.

(3) Location Contrast
- By nature of its location, it is already a contrast.
- It is being sited right smack in the heart of Orchard Rd, just across the youth centred Hereen Bldg, and yet offers one of the most contemplative corner of this busy street.
- It is also devoid of any form sensory bombardment as one experienced throughout the entire street of Orchard Rd with the myriad of advertisements and media .
- It is a place for contemplative resting and to be away from the sensory bombardment.
- The pavilion and the tea-garden provides an almost zen-like spatial escape from the busy nature of its surrounding.