IN COLLABORATION WITH NADA LULIC
Snow drift pavilion celebrates the material qualities of timber, snow and cotton thread.
Our design process has shifted throughout the semester. For this final pavilion we went back to the materials themselves and experimented with multiple modelling techniques and designs. We wanted to allow the materials to dictate our form through the iterative process and ultimately we landed on the final design. It is an intentional radial structure that defines circulation and celebrates the unique properties and processes of snow. The system is compromised of the essential units of timber stakes being connected by thread. The timber acts as a primary structure, the thread as a secondary delicate perforated wall, and the snow as an ephemeral membrane. These units are arrayed to expose a circular void in the centre of the pavilion that encourages guests of the resort to fully appreciate the snow that coats the beautiful landscape they are entering. The snow sticks to the thread and piles up making walls in some areas depending on the winds. The circular form has the essence of the compass, so when winds are blowing in a particular direction it will be evident to the guests seeing the more dense and packed in walls of those areas.
The location was decided once the material properties were understood in order to choose a site and climate was most suited to our concept. Kiroro resort in Japan was a perfect location that we could array our pavilion on the main circulation path to the main resort entry. This will guide guests to leave behind their everyday lives to transition into one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. It was important to us that we chose a site at least one of us was familiar with and had been to so that we could ensure our concept was suitable. Essentially the pavilion celebrates the qualities of snow we sometimes overlook- how small snowflakes can accumulate to create formidable snowy forms.
