AIA Hong Kong

Merit Award for Architecture: City’s Playground Pavilion by Architecture Commons Ltd.

Winner: Architecture Commons Ltd.
Award: Merit Award for Architecture

City’s Playground is an exhibition commissioned by the Planning Department in celebration of the 20th Anniversary of HKSAR. The Pavilion is the front beacon drawing the city’s attention, while the main exhibition content of the various planning initiatives in Hong Kong is distributed in three halls in the City Gallery building. Programmatically the Pavilion has two purposes: first is a stage and backdrop for large public performances, and the second is a digital art gallery. The design of the pavilion is a direct response to the two functional spaces by anchoring them on the two ends like a dumb bell scheme. The larger opening faces Central, the smaller opening looks back to the City Gallery, and the connecting corridor holds a themed exhibition procured by the Department.

In light of the temporary nature of the Pavilion, galvanized steel mesh was chosen as the cladding material to give the Pavilion a translucent presence. It also allows the visitor to appreciate the impressive cantilevered ring and the triangulated structure within. A key design feature of the Pavilion is the four continuous edge linings, which were painstakingly planned to wrap the structure in a continuous manner. They are programmed to give off a pulsating intensity of light, and to trace the profiles in synchronized motion. The effect is dramatic and it impresses upon our visitors the unique form and vibrancy of the Pavilion.