Eight whimsical pavilions with supersized organic shapes
Architects have gotten creative with pavilions lately, drawing inspiration from nature for designs that resemble everything from twisting seashells to giant mushrooms. In this roundup, we showcase eight of the most eye-catching.
Designed for a wide range of functions, from a library to a viewpoint, these pavilions show how organic forms and natural materials can be used to create whimsical pavilions that bring joy to their visitors.
Chinese Paper Umbrella, Italy, by MAD
While this translucent pavilion was inspired by a product – Chinese paper umbrellas – its draping form resembles a giant flower. Created by architecture studio MAD, it was designed to serve as a sheltered outdoor space at this year's Venice Architecture Biennale.
At night, the tung oil-covered Xuan paper is lit from within, creating "a pavilion of shadow and glow", according to MAD.
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Twisted Brick Shell Library, China, by HCCH Studio
The organic shape of this circular brick library in Longyou County, China, was designed "to cuddle visitors in the wide-open field like a spiritual shelter", designer HCCH Studio said.
Resembling a giant seashell, the pavilion was formed of two brick hemispheres connected by a twisting section of wall. Its brickwork mimics the appearance of the more traditional buildings in the nearby town.
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The Armadillo, UK, by Unknown Works
Stepped timber arches formed The Armadillo, a wooden pavilion on show as part of the London Festival of Architecture last year.
Designer Unknown Works constructed it out of 42 prefabricated cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels, naming the eucalyptus-timber pavilion for its resemblance to the armoured mammal.
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The Nomad Pavilion, Italy, by Marc Fornes
Designed for fashion house Louis Vuitton, this pavilion was formed out of more than 16,000 sheets of anodised aluminium by New York designer Marc Fornes.
Each sheet had a unique shape and pattern, and all were then joined together to create a bulbous structure that was informed by the shape of coral reefs.
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Carbon Pavilion, UK, by Mizzi Studio
A giant mushroom-shaped pavilion has sprouted in London's Kew Gardens. The ornate wooden structure, designed by architectural designer Mizzi Studio to emulate a living organism, features a translucent roof made from flax crowns.
It was created as part of the botanical garden's new Carbon Garden, which aims to highlight the role of carbon in supporting life on Earth.
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Drifting Stones, China, by DoDesign
Aptly named Drifting Stones, this pavilion made from imitation stone sits on a rocky site in Chongqing, China. It conceals a panoramic viewing area beneath a stepped roof.
Designer DoDesign created the pavilion from steel-framed, cement-coated slabs, which were hand-chiselled by local artisans to resemble the textures of the surrounding valley.
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Salmon Eye, Norway, by Kvorning Design
The ovoid Salmon Eye pavilion in Norway's Hardangerfjord appears to be clad in gleaming fish scales but is actually made from stainless steel plates.
Danish exhibition design studio Kvorning Design created Salmon Eye for local salmon farming company Eide Fjordbruk, which will use the pavilion to host exhibitions and provide information about the possibilities of sustainable aquaculture.
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Woodworking shelter, UK, by Invisible Studio and Pearce +
A green oak framework supports an aluminium shingle roof to form this organic-looking woodworking shelter in Gloucestershire by British practices Invisible Studio and Pearce+.
Six tree trunks hold up a "roof structure that had some of the delicacy of a tree", Invisible Studio founder Piers Taylor told Dezeen.
Find out more about the woodworking shelter ›
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