Pavilion In The Forest / Bansong Studio

Architects: Bansong Studio
Area: 150 m²
Year: 2019
Photographs: Peigeng Zhang, Lei Shen
Lead Architects: Peigen Zhang, Zitian Wen
City: Zhongshan
Country: China

Pavilion in the Forest by Bansong Studio is located on an old farm in Heli Village, Zhongshan City, and replaces old chicken coops with a rectangular clearing among tall trees. The pavilion, designed to offer a distinct experience, includes archery facilities and a toilet, aiming to blend with the natural surroundings. Constructed with an 80mm steel tube frame and a light steel roof, the design emphasizes structural lightness and cost control. Solar panels extend from the roof, doubling as seating and providing ventilation. The inward-sloping roof creates a framed landscape view and directs rainwater to a central pool, adding a reflective feature inside the pavilion. The structure integrates seamlessly with the wooded setting, offering indoor and outdoor seating amidst greenery and water elements.

The project is situated on an old farm in Heli Village, Nanlang Town, Zhongshan City, surrounded by trees with canopies about ten meters high, providing dense foliage and ample shade. The site previously housed dilapidated chicken coops, which were demolished to create a rectangular clearing within the forest.

At the start of the design process, the goal was to create a building that offers a distinct experience compared to its natural surroundings. The pavilion was designed with an archery function aligned with the surrounding trees and includes a toilet. Named “Pavilion in the Forest,” the title reflects the relationship between the building and its environment, with “pavilion” symbolizing a welcoming space for visitors to rest and enjoy the area.

The main structure of the building is constructed using 80mm square steel tubes, and the roof is made from light, thin profiled steel sheets. The design emphasizes a lightweight structure while keeping construction costs under control.

The building’s sections are designed as standardized units, with extensions of about 400 cm at both the top and bottom to accommodate solar panels. The extended lower part can be enclosed with boards to create circular seating. The upper portion of the outer wall is separated from the top of the single-pitched roof, serving as ventilation for the windowless structure. This design choice also enhances the horizontal continuity by detaching the wall from the top and bottom, making it independent of the main structure.

The height of the cornice for the inward single-pitched roof is kept within 2000 mm, creating a landscape frame that visually separates the courtyard from the surrounding scenery, distinguishing inside from outside. This roof design also presented a drainage challenge, which was addressed by incorporating a square pool within the pavilion. The pool not only collects rainwater but also creates a reflective, shimmering effect on the indoor ceiling, adding a sparkling feature to the space.

The trees surrounding the building are dense and irregularly arranged. As you walk up and down the steps into the building, the black frame comes into view with seating arranged in inner and outer circles. Visitors can sit freely, enjoying the sunlight that scatters green and blue hues across the landscape, creating dappled patterns of light. The central square pool sparkles with water, where fallen leaves float like fish. The pavilion not only offers a serene retreat in the forest but also includes a rectangular courtyard within its structure, enhancing the connection between the interior and the natural surroundings.