White aluminium pavilion is inspired by author Jules Verne
For the Jinji Lake Bienniale, MARC FORNES / THEVERYMANY created a large-scale outdoor pavilion, made from white aluminium, taking inspiration from celebrated author Jules Verne’s book Voyages Extraordinaires.
The pavilion, which looks like it has bubbled up from the ground, is placed on the elevated plaza of the Suzhou Center, interrupting the usual traffic. The large structure is made from delicate looking aluminium, which is between 1 and 2 millimetres (0.04 to 0.08 inch) thick. The structure is decorated with irregularly perforated holes and swirls of light.
The so-called Boolean Operator – named for the function that determines relationships between statements, geometries, or forms – takes inspiration from the book Voyages Extraorinaires by Jules Verne. The ship that takes Captain Nemo to the bottom of the sea is described as both a tactical vehicle and having a lush interior, including an organ and a dining room.
Like this submarine, the shell structure is a “transporting vessel”. “A century and a half after Verne, THEVERYMANY are dedicated to making real the fantasies otherwise relegated to the digital and we are practiced in fabricating architecture that defies convention,” the architects say. “The drama of the interior atmosphere makes you feel as if you have suddenly descended into some other world, despite the thinness of the enclosure that separates you from the familiar terrain beyond.”
The structure is “an irresistible terrain” for children to play in and explore. Despite its delicate look, the structure is very tough. According to THEVERYMANY, “It must be entered to be discovered, but as it becomes known and mapped by Suzhou locals, it becomes a site to pursue, to seek out, and to transport you over and over again.”
Earlier, Marc Fornes and THEVERYMANY designed an artwork made of perforated white aluminium resembling coral. For more about this project, click here.