When Natural Contexts Are Neatly Wrapped up in a Growing Up Pavilion

In 2019, the Growing Up Pavilion project carried out by New Office won the Hong Kong Young Architects & Designers competition. for the first time. The New Office was inspired by natural elements in the western Kowloon cultural district in designing this temporary pavilion initiated by the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCD).

Growing Up Pavilion built by the sea

The New Office designed the Growing Up Pavilion which consists of a series of platforms for social gatherings of local communities. Because this project refers to the context of the surrounding nature, particularly the existing trees, the volume appears with wooden columns as the frame of the pavilion. At first glance, the design of this pavilion seems refined and is considered to be able to capture elements of urban architecture poured into the form of its simple structure.

"The design process was an exercise in close observation of things around us, and how to lend significance to various elements that comprise the city," New Office said. 

Perspectives Growing Up Pavilion

The natural context in the narrative of the Growing Up Pavilion structure is displayed through the tree references to its columns and the spatial experience created by the New Office. Because it is built on the shores of a calm and beautiful sea, spatial experiences are successfully developed through wooden structures arranged at different heights. This arrangement is intended to celebrate the beauty of the surrounding nature that has accompanied the Growing Up Pavilion from its inception.

Trees surround the Growing Up Pavilion

In addition, the New Office also regulates the differences in northern and southern elevations to frame the scenery from the park to the port. While the east and west facades are dynamically separated by wooden columns.

Wooden columns framing the surrounding natural scenery

On top of the wooden columns, the New Office arranged a sloping roof with curved polycarbonate panels and tubes as rainwater drains. Thus, the roof structure on the Growing Up Pavilion can adapt to the rainy season in Hong Kong.

Growing Up Pavilion has a sloping roof

Polycarbonate tubes serve as rainwater channels

Under the polycarbonate roof, the New Office placed a sloping, multi-story seating area and faced the surrounding scenery, contrasting with its perpendicular vertical structure. The seating area's design allows for various activities to be carried out inside the pavilion.

Multi-storey seating inside the Growing Up Pavilion

The final touch of the New Office that is the allure of the Growing Up Pavilion is the addition of one palm tree behind the seating area as a representation of the natural context. Finally, Growing Up Pavilions is an iconic way to capture elements of nature without intervention from the surrounding environment. Through its simple structure and unique design, New Office directs everyone's attention to something bigger.

At night Growing Up Pavilion lights up with yellow lights