A pair of steel-structured pavilions located in a valley overlooking the ocean in Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.

The brief called for the revitalization and expansion of an underutilized viewing deck. Responding to both programmatic needs and the existing typology, the design deconstructs the original gable-roof form into two distinct single-pitch volumes. The two pavilions are arranged perpendicular to each other, with concrete walls underneath defining the circulation path and creating a semi-enclosed courtyard oriented towards the ocean.

The two pavilions share a unified material palette and structural system, establishing a cohesive “twin” relationship while expressing unique architectural identities. The pavilion by the mountain features a taller structure and a compact footprint, while the pavilion facing the sea runs parallel to the coastline with a lower profile and an elongated form. Both pavilions are clad in corten grating with varied densities and thicknesses to evoke a sense of lightness or heaviness when lit by sunlight.

Seen from the foothill, the two structures create an asymmetrical yet balanced composition, reflecting the subtle and nuanced duality of ocean and mountain, light and heavy, transient and enduring, embedded in the site landscape. Through contrasts of scale and proportion, the two pavilions choreograph a rhythm of movement, turns, and pause: one guides an elevated, tunnel-like view of the sea framed through the treetops, while the other opens to an expansive outlook on the ground level. Together, they make the act of looking out to sea a continuous, embodied spatial experience.

In collaboration with Atelier Noirs