wings
Winter 2019 / In partnership with Lauren Rueb
The thatch seemed to absorb the air around me, and with the fragrant depth of the forest, it held me down onto the Earth. Like a mother bird protecting its chick, it sheltered me from the infinity outside. It did however let me look out into the ever-expanding world around us. Its wooden frame twisted and twirled along with the Universe, and framed the glowing moon right above me. This expansion almost seemed to reflect the infinity of the mind, the infinity within. A pool of creativity and possibility awaits to be explored within us, and it is just this that Wings has taught me.
The pavilion’s form suggests an idea of dematerialization: a heavy thatch cladding transitions into an exposed frame that forms an open oculus. This gradient of density acts as a transition from Earth to sky, encouraging Wing’s visitors to look up.
Wings is constructed out of wood. Each wooden member is notched such that they slot into each other in a waffle pattern. Members are curved, jointed together and nailed to form the frame of the pavilion. It is clad in thatch, presenting a continuity with its hay-filled interior.
Wings’ interior consists of a stepped hay surface, allowing its inhabitants to recline and enjoy the view of the vast sky above it. This design reflects the concept of expansion, as each layer of hay bale marks the next step to ascension.
