18 Peaks Pavilion by Studio Kota Architecture

Designed by Studio Kota Architecture. 18 Peaks Pavilion is to be one piece of the puzzle in the mix of the West Kowloon Cultural District, Hong Kong.

Architect: Studio Kota Architecture
Client: WKCDA Hong Kong
Location: West Kowloon Cultural District, Hong Kong
Year: 2017
Team: Erick Kristanto, Kenneth Sit, Andrew Tjokro Putra
Site area: 243 sqm

From the architects: The West Kowloon Cultural District is becoming to be a place that promotes cultural interaction through art, education and public space. It is a vital urban space and cultural realm for the people of Hong Kong; allowing outdoor activities and informal social engagements to happen. The pavilion is to be one piece of the puzzle in the mix of cultural venues to enrich the livelihoods of visitors to the cultural district.

The pavilion’s highlighted feature is its roof. It comprises of eighteen peaks varying at different heights to create a dynamic undulating experience. These eighteen peaks represent the eighteen districts in Hong Kong, the mountainous terrain of the city and the collective spirit of the people of Hong Kong all under one roof. The membrane of the roof is enclosed by an array of cables creating a shelter for the activities that happen below. The cables not only provide shading for beneath but allows it to be porous thus the whole pavilion can ventilate in all direction. The arrangement of the cables also acts as a blank canvas allowing different light simulations and visual effects to be spectated especially at night. It is imagined artists can also participate in contributing lighting designs and projections onto the pavilion roof.

The form of the pavilion compliments the surrounding context of the trees through scale and shape in order to not cause tension between nature and the built structure. The floor space below the roof is purposely left as a free plan to allow any kind of arrangement of activities including seminars, performances, exercising, and informal picnicking. In the absence of a specific event, the pavilion is left as a play space with detachable swings and seats to allow everyone to congregate and socialize. The free open space also allows uninterrupted views of the harbor.

The pavilion looks to be a cultural venue as well as a social hub contributing to the rich mix of arts complex already planned for the area. It hopes to not only be a building of form and aesthetics but also a place to invigorate the cultural and artistic spirit of Hong Kong.

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