Shiver House V2 Pavilion / NEON

Architects: NEON
Area: 25 m²
Year: 2022
Photographs: Yves Bercez
Design Team: Mark Nixon, Viliina Koivisto
Curator: Blandine Roselle
Engineering Team: Elliott Wood
Production Team: Kraft & Louvre Lens
City: Lens
Country: France

Shiver House V2 Pavilion by NEON is a kinetic pavilion designed to foster a closer connection between its inhabitants and the natural environment. Located within the park of the louver-lens, this structure features 1,100 kinetic polycarbonate counter-weighted shingles that move in response to wind, rain, or snow, creating a dynamic, ever-changing façade. This constant transformation invites prolonged engagement, grounding viewers in the present and enhancing their emotional relationship with nature. Inside, the kinetic shingles modulate light levels and offer varying views of the landscape, emphasizing the structure’s integration with its surroundings. Shiver House V2 builds on previous iterations installed in Finland and is intended for longer-term use.

Shiver House V2 Pavilion by NEON is a kinetic structure that responds dynamically to natural forces, resembling an “animal-like” entity that moves and adapts to its environment. This pavilion explores how architecture can strengthen the emotional connection between people and the natural world around them. It aims to make architecture feel “alive,” fostering a deeper, lasting relationship between people and the spaces they inhabit.

The structure features 1,100 kinetic polycarbonate counter-weighted shingles that rotate up or down in response to wind, rain, or snow, placing the pavilion in a continuous state of transformation. This variability encourages viewers to spend extended periods with the cabin and, consequently, in nature.

Observing Shiver House V2 reminds viewers of the invisible natural forces around them, creating a connection not only to the pavilion but also to the broader landscape. This interaction grounds the observer in the present moment, which can alleviate feelings of anxiety.

Inside, the pavilion allows occupants to view the surrounding environment through its dynamic façade, as the kinetic shingles adjust internal light levels and frame views of the landscape.

Shiver House V2 builds upon the success of earlier versions in Finland, with this iteration designed for long-term use within the park of the louver-lens.