Abstract marine symbols combine with environmentally friendly materials. That’s what makes the Ecological Relaxation Pavilion unique. The Ecological Relaxation Pavilion attempts to create intriguing spots along the lengthy landscape. We are standing before a trio of small structures. These structures are part of the Shanghai Lingang Ecological Restoration Project.
These pavilions dot the 17-kilometer-long coastline. They act as landmarks. The Ecological Relaxation Pavilion provides basic resting spots for Shanghai citizens. It serves as eco-educational exhibits.
The Ecological Relaxation Pavilion considers three main aspects. How to create distinctive features. How to occupy the space while avoiding FAR. How to integrate marine science themes into the form and material.
The Lingang coastline offers a surreal atmosphere. It is different from Shanghai’s daily scenery. Huge wind turbines stand tall. Giant boulder-like wave breakers dot the landscape. The endless sea stretches out. This determined the design strategy. The Ecological Relaxation Pavilion would enhance the site’s surreal experience. It features alien volumes and materials. The pavilions have no roof. This expands their spatial capacity through large enclosing walls.
The three pavilions are designed as individual installations. This provides maximum recognizability. Throughout construction, each Ecological Relaxation Pavilion had a nickname. “Membrane Sea Snail” is one. “3D-print Plastic Wave Breaker Splash” is another. Finally, there is the “Recycled Brick Coral Reef.”
Let’s start with the Membrane Sea Snail. It is located under a large wind turbine. Its main structure consists of eight steel arches. These arches gradiently form an inside-out flip structure. A silver fabric membrane covers it. The base naturally forms a semi-circular bench. Eye-shaped openings provide views of the sea. These openings also reduce the membrane’s coverage. The semi-transparent fabric presents a futuristic appearance.
Now look toward the 3D-print Plastic Wave Breaker Splash. It aims to create a porous space. This space resembles Chinese scholar stones. Visitors can walk through wave-like artificial rock caves. The installation consists of 228 standardized 3D printed units. Each unit is 480mm high. They are in blue and green. They nest and support each other. This provides a novel and variable experience through modular units.
Finally, we have the Recycled Brick Coral Reef. It is located at the eastern end of the coastline. This is near the Lingang landmark, Compass Fish. It adopts an organic form. This is similar to concrete artificial coral reefs. It serves as a shelter by the sea. The final form consists of a 300mm thick porous wall. It has an empty interior. The wall is cast from recycled red brick fragments. Corten steel plates form the openings and doorways. The hexagonal motif runs through the wall openings.
The Ecological Relaxation Pavilion bridges landscape features, public art, and infrastructure. It coordinates multiple factors and natural conditions. Although the material experimentation was not fully realized, the Ecological Relaxation Pavilion is a positive attempt. It is the intervention of small characteristic structures in large-scale infrastructure projects.