Architects: Aether Architects
Area: 520 m²
Year: 2019
Photographs: Chao Zhang
Lead Architects: Zelin Huang
Manufacturer: Guangzhou Hongwan Inflatable Co.Ltd
Clients: Shenzhen Bizarre Unit Co.Ltd, Shenzhen Overseas Chinese Town Co.Ltd
City: Shenzhen
Country: China
Designed by Aether Architects, Air-Mountain is a multi-purpose pavilion at the 2019 Oct Phoenix Flower Carnival in Foshan, China, serving as a venue for concerts, performances, forums, and workshops, while its exterior offers a leisure space for visitors. Built around the concepts of “Micro-ecological geometry” and “Multidimensional relationship and phenomenon,” the pavilion evolves basic geometric forms to create an ecological structure that manages insulation, sound, and airflow. It seamlessly integrates with its surroundings and activities, functioning not as a static object but as a dynamic blend of architecture and nature. The design captures the complex synchronicity of daily life, suggesting new connections between built environments and natural phenomena through transparent and intersecting spaces that provide layered views of overlapping events.
We found a construction method that met the goals of sound effects, architectural structure, and spatial phenomena – the double-layer membrane construction method, the distance between the two layers of membranes, determined by the thickness of the air gap between them, would strike a balance between the acoustic properties and structural strength of the internal space.
Interview with Huang Zelin of Aether Architects
The architectural design of Air-Mountain is centered around two key concepts: “Micro-ecological geometry” and “Multidimensional relationship and phenomenon.”
“Micro-ecological geometry” is a concept that involves transforming basic geometric shapes into architectural forms based on evolving environmental and event demands. In Air-Mountain, the design uses an air interlayer as part of the structure, serving as insulation, while the inner top surface is shaped to prevent sound focus. The pavilion features top orifices for hot air diversion and lateral openings for airflow convection, reflecting a coordinated ecological approach in its evolving form.
“Multidimensional relationship” is a concept centered on the “fusion and penetration” between elements. It views architecture not as a single-function solid entity or a static object, but as a synthesis of multiple elements and functions combined synchronically. In Air-Mountain, this approach creates a seamless integration between the structure and its surroundings, blending various activities, states, and behaviors, and emphasizing the interconnectedness between the built environment and nature.
“Multidimensional phenomenon” views architecture as an ecological occurrence, emphasizing that the countless simultaneous events in reality are nearly impossible to quantify, reflecting the core dynamic nature of daily life. In this project, beyond addressing the practical functions of the building, there is a focus on exploring additional architectural values: Can a static structure embody dynamic interactions and elevate itself to become an environmental outcome influenced by various dynamic phenomena? This concept challenges conventional architecture, aiming to transform the building into an evolving entity within its surroundings.
Air-Mountain uses the horizontal and vertical spatial relationships and the building’s transparency to intertwine various contents and both static and dynamic behaviors. This creates a visual interplay of overlapping scenes and events, presenting a synchronic perspective. Through this design, the pavilion explores the essential phenomenon of countless simultaneous occurrences, hinting at the potential for a new relationship between architecture and nature.
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Project Location
Address: OCT Ecological Square, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
