Cycling Pavilion / A.C.R.E. Atelier + School Of Art Design And Media Of ECUST

Architects: A.C.R.E. Atelier, School of art design and Media of ECUST
Area: 90 m²
Year: 2021
Photographs: Courtesy of A.C.R.E Atelier + School of art design and Media of ECUST
Construction: Hongya Zhuyuan Construction Engineering Co.Ltd
Design Team: Shun Yin, Qi Shi, Xinhe Lu, Jiyao Wei, Kun Liu, Hetian Chen, Shiyuan Zhang, Zheyi Shen, Chengyang Zhao
Structural Consultant: Zhun Zhang
Lighting Consultant: Xiu Yang (TJAD)
Client: Lingang New Area Management Committee + Harbour City Group
City: Shanghai
Country: China

The Cycling Pavilion, designed by A.C.R.E. Atelier in collaboration with the School of Art, Design, and Media at ECUST, is part of Lingang’s 2021 Shanghai Urban Space Art Season. Set in the rapidly growing Lingang New Area, the pavilion serves as a demonstration of sustainable urban development and future community goals. Built with low-carbon materials like bamboo and steel, it reduces carbon emissions by over 40% throughout its lifecycle. Lightly anchored with I-beams to minimize ground impact, the structure eliminates traditional concrete, lowering emissions and dust. The pavilion features adaptable bamboo and wood components, designed to support professional cycling events as well as casual bike parking. Parking spaces within the structure accommodate bicycle wheels, while suspended parking is available for racing bikes, with crossbars adjustable through magnets and bolts. The structural framework interlocks timber in a stable, triangular system without diagonal bracing, merging form and function in a cohesive design that exemplifies sustainability and versatility in urban spaces.

Future Community Challenges
Lingang New Area, distinct from central Shanghai, was envisioned from the outset with a wider international perspective, guiding its urban planning as a forward-looking city. Recent developments have accelerated Lingang’s transformation into a world-class urban center: a significant increase in population concentration, the establishment of an efficient transportation network, and the completion of high-quality international urban services mark its progress. Lingang has also built a foundational digital infrastructure, improved its regional ecological environment, and advanced efforts to create a “15-minute living service circle.” These developments position Lingang as a model for future city construction. As part of the 2021 Shanghai Urban Space Art Season – Lingang Sample Exhibition, the cycling pavilion was conceived as an experiential “node” to represent the future lifestyle and spatial features of Lingang, emphasizing the importance of the “cycling movement” in this vision.

Cycling Pavilion / A.C.R.E. Atelier + School of art design and Media of ECUST

Reducing Carbon Emissions – A Low-Carbon System with Bamboo and Steel
A primary objective for Lingang New Area is achieving full low-carbon coverage to support sustainable urban living and green city development. The cycling pavilion serves as part of this goal, designed as an urban node within a network of cycling facilities and urban furniture, with its structure made of steel and bamboo to minimize carbon emissions. From material production and processing to transportation, construction, and building operation, every phase of the pavilion’s lifecycle emphasizes low-carbon, green construction principles to support Lingang’s sustainable future vision.

The foundation of the cycling pavilion was designed to have minimal impact on the ground, employing a structure of 200mm I-beams secured with 20mm anchor bolts directly to the site. This method avoids the need for an on-site poured concrete slab, which significantly reduces carbon emissions associated with both the production and the pouring process of traditional concrete foundations. By eliminating the use of concrete slabs, the design prioritizes a low-impact approach that aligns with the project’s sustainability objectives.

The construction process of the cycling pavilion is designed for maximum efficiency, achieving a reduction in carbon emissions by more than 40% over its lifespan. This represents a significant technological step toward achieving “peak carbon” and “carbon neutrality” in construction. Moreover, the process includes effective dust control measures and conserves water, electricity, and other resources, fulfilling its primary goals of energy conservation and environmental protection.

The Light Intervention of Assembled Bamboo and Wood Structures
The design team focused on making the building adaptable to the city’s need for micro-renewal, integrating it into the site with the lightest possible intervention and in alignment with existing site constraints. The cycling pavilion features an assembled bamboo and wood structure, with material efficiency enhanced through optimization, component downgrading, and reuse.

Interspersed Parking
The structural uprights in the cycling pavilion are spaced to allow bicycle wheels to be easily slotted in for convenient parking. This setup makes it accessible for children to park their bikes and serves the everyday parking needs of nearby residents when the pavilion isn’t hosting professional events. The interspersed design effectively provides flexible, practical parking options for both event-based and casual use.

Suspension Parking
Suspended parking is designed for professional road cycling events, where lightweight bicycles can’t independently stand and need secure storage. Bikes are hung from a suspension crossbar, which accommodates multiple bicycles by using a system of bolts and strong magnets to rotate for easy access. This crossbar can be stored when not in use, making it a flexible solution tailored for event-specific needs without impacting the space during non-event times.

A Pavilion Celebrating Cycling
The design of the cycling pavilion incorporates unique, out-of-the-box wooden “spokes” that arch through the air, forming a smooth, curved surface. This detail not only highlights the theme of cycling but also adds a dynamic, flowing aesthetic that resonates with the motion and spirit of cycling itself.

Structure
The pavilion’s timber structure is assembled with staggered beams that interlock, or “nibble,” to seamlessly merge the load-bearing and maintenance systems into one cohesive framework. This technique “weaves” the timber elements into a stable triangular structure, removing the need for traditional diagonal bracing. This straightforward construction approach creates visual clarity and unity within the structure, enhancing both its stability and its aesthetic appeal.