Meiyuan Pavilion Pavelló de Control Comunitari by Thad

Meiyuan Pavilion Pavelló de Control Comunitari by Thad is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 A' Design Award de Ferro in Disseny d'Arquitectura, Edificació i Estructures Competition Category.

FerroArquitectura· 2021

Meiyuan Pavilion Pavelló de Control Comunitari

by Thad

Client: Architectural Design and Research Institute of Tsinghua University CO., LTD.

A' Design Award de Ferro Winner in Arquitectura Category

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The Design

About Meiyuan Pavilion Pavelló de Control Comunitari

El Pavelló Meiyuan és una estructura de control construïda a l'entrada d'una antiga comunitat residencial a Pequín. El pavelló ofereix aixopluc, un punt de control de temperatura, emmagatzematge de paquets i un espai de descans. Tres rutes de circulació separades divideixen els vianants que entren dels residents que recullen paquets, la qual cosa redueix la congestió. Cada mòdul està format per columnes i bigues de tub de cartró unides mitjançant unions d'espiga de contraplacat i bases d'acer. La fabricació digital va permetre el muntatge en 24 hores i va deixar intacte el paviment existent.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award de Ferro

Meiyuan Pavilion Pavelló de Control Comunitari és un guanyador del guardó A' Design Award de Ferro, un reconeixement prestigiós concedit a bons dissenys que compleixen els requisits professionals i industrials esperats de creacions ben dissenyades. Els guanyadors de Ferro demostren una gran habilitat, una alta especialització, una comprensió experta i la capacitat creativa dels seus creadors. Es preveu que Meiyuan Pavilion Pavelló de Control Comunitari sigui una creació molt apreciada, admirada i estimada que és pràctica i innovadora. Aquest disseny guanyador del guardó A' Design Award de Ferro integra les millors pràctiques del sector i té característiques tècniques competents lligades al coneixement i al talent. Meiyuan Pavilion Pavelló de Control Comunitari és respectat per la seva minuciositat i està pensat per oferir millores en la qualitat de vida que ajuden a fer del món un lloc millor.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The Meiyuan pavilion is located in an old community – Meiyuan Community in Beijing, and is expeditiously assembled together for checkpoint during the coronavirus pandemic. It provides multiple imperative functions for the community residents, such as a substantial shelter, temperature checkpoint, package storage, and resting place. The pavilion is inspired by traditional Chinese tectonic language and reinterpret it into a simple and clean modern image for the community.
Dimensions & Packaging: The dimension of pavilion is 9880mm x 6860mm; height is 3920mm; gross building area is 55.8sqm; in which 43sqm is passageway, and 12.8sqm is package storage space.
Tags: Beijing, China, Covid-19, Checkpoint, Paper-tube, Plywood, Pavilion, Digital Fabrication
Production Technology: It is designed as a modular system that can be mass-produced and easy-assembled. Each module includes two paper-tube columns and two paper-tube beams as the main structure, connected by three plywood tenon joints and two steel bases. Lastly, the two steel bases are buried in two wooden beer boxes filled with rocks. These foundations effectively prevent pavement from damage. Construction technology includes waterproof and fireproof experiment, structural innovation lab testing and CNC digital fabrication. Especially with CNC technology，designers could ensure precise cutting, pre-punching, pre-grooving within 0.3mm error. Joint pieces can be engraved with ID number, and pre-punched with holes. Those steps are helpful for construction workers to assemble joints and screw holes. Hence, the designers could ensure the construction quality and shorten the construction time to 24 hours. In terms of electrical equipment integration, the designers take the advantage of paper-tube being hollow, in which they place electric and internet wires. Keeping electric wires invisible enhances overall spatial quality as well as architectural integrity.
Design Challenge: The gateway of old communities faces four major challenges. Firstly, limited open space and high pedestrian flow are the primary obstacles. Secondly, in order not to burden the community, eco-friendly and degradable construction materials are preferable. Thirdly, the checkpoint needs to perform its duty during the pandemic as quickly as possible, so construction should be done in 24 hours. Lastly, pavement shall be kept intact because the pavilion is only a temporary structure. In addition, the free-standing foundation should be able to meet the wind load test of extreme climate.
Research: This experiment attempts to apply new materials and digital fabrication to improve the spatial quality, and provide a social interaction space for residents of old communities. From the post-occupancy evaluation of this project, we find out that under the pavilion elders enjoy chatting with friends, kids like to play with toys, young men and ladies like to stay while waiting for taxi. During the Chinese New Year, the residents even decorate it with red lanterns and Chinese knots. It is good to see how architecture stimulates social interaction and neighborhood vitality.
Inspiration: With the outbreak of the Covid-19 in 2020, Chinese government conducts strict entry and exit regulations. Residential communities set up checkpoints to guard outsiders who might carry the virus. Checking process slows down the circulation flow at the checkpoint, and it becomes congested. Therefore, designers create a modular system that is fast and easy to assemble. They also create a package storage space to divert the circulation. Thus, it becomes clear and unimpeded.
Project Duration: The project is located in Beijing. The project started in June 2020, and completed in November 2020.
Operation Flow: The designers carefully create three independent circulations within the pavilion based on functions. For instance, entering pedestrian circulation is separated from package-picking pedestrian circulation. Hence, the diversion not only decrease the risk of exposure to virus, but also increases traffic efficiency significantly.
Team Members: Wei Zhang, Sisi Liang, Guande Wu, Xiaoqian Zhang, Zhonglin Gong
Image Credits: Tri-images, Xiaobin Lv