Meiyuan Pavilion Pavillón de Control Comunitario by Thad

Meiyuan Pavilion Pavillón de Control Comunitario by Thad is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 A' Design Award de Ferro in Deseño de Arquitectura, Edificación e Estruturas Competition Category.

FerroArquitectura· 2021

Meiyuan Pavilion Pavillón de Control Comunitario

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 Pavillón de Control Comunitario

O Pavillón Meiyuan é unha estrutura de control construída na entrada dunha antiga comunidade residencial en Pequín. O pavillón ofrece abeiro, un punto de control de temperatura, almacenamento de paquetería e un lugar de descanso. Tres rutas de circulación independentes separan os peóns que entran dos residentes que recollen paquetes, o que reduce a conxestión. Cada módulo está formado por columnas e vigas de tubo de cartón unidas mediante xuntas de espiga de contrachapado e bases de aceiro. A fabricación dixital permitiu a montaxe en 24 horas e deixou intacto o pavimento existente.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award de Ferro

Meiyuan Pavilion Pavillón de Control Comunitario gañou o A' Design Award de Ferro, un recoñecemento prestixioso outorgado a bos deseños que cumpren os requisitos profesionais e industriais esperados de creacións ben deseñadas. Os gañadores Ferro demostran a gran habilidade, a alta especialización, a comprensión experta e a capacidade creativa dos seus creadores. Espérase que Meiyuan Pavilion Pavillón de Control Comunitario sexa unha creación moi apreciada, admirada e querida que é práctica e innovadora. Este deseño gañador do A' Design Award de Ferro integra as mellores prácticas do sector e ten características técnicas competentes ligadas ao saber facer e ao talento. Meiyuan Pavilion Pavillón de Control Comunitario é respectado pola súa minuciosidade e está deseñado para proporcionar melloras na calidade de vida que axudan a facer do mundo un lugar mellor.

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