parasite pavilion by TCA think tank at venice architecture biennale

parasite pavilion by TCA think tank at venice architecture biennale
photo © marco cappelletti
all images courtesy of TCA think tank

the ‘parasite pavilion’ is the outcome of the cooperation between the architect, hsieh ying chun, and TCA think tank, led by pier alessio rizzardi and zhang hankun, together with students from europe, australia, and china. the work was performed as part of the intensive, five-day ‘bug dome’ workshop for the synergy & symbiosis event of the 2014 venice architecture biennale. the structure, which is realized on the vacuum in the garden outside the chinese pavilion to attract the visitors arriving from giardini and arsenale exhibition, offers shade, protection, and a place to escape from the great content of the ‘absorbing modernity’ gallery, allowing a direct experience to elements of architecture.

the project was originally developed for the shenzhen hong kong bicity biennale in 2009 by WEAK! architects as an icon of illegal building for the use of the people. today, the translation in italy is used as a physical research of fundamental pieces of the space. understanding the basic concepts behind traditional chinese organization creates the reference to developed the design. 

the geometry follows two guiding curves defining the edges coming from the interaction between the existing structure and composition of the internal cavity. using a 3D model expedited the process, as it showed the necessary dimensions and details of each component. once the contemporary and locally-sourced materials were cut, a metal net was placed on top to provide a coordinate system that guided the installation of the arches. their feet were then placed in tension with metal wires and fixed to the supports within a layer of nonwoven textile, creating a self-sustaining system. reinforcement is granted by PVC pipes and plastic ties that have been weaved into the framework. the finishing is a gradient of gravel sized dispersed on the ground according to scale of the enclosed spaces.

external view of the structure
photo © marco cappelletti 

the interior is the result of four systems shaped by a single element in the form of a curved mesh. the entrance shows itself, inviting visitors to be absorbed from the surroundings, developing expectations and pushing an atmosphere of exploration. the corridor opens to the main room, where the scale widens as the texture of the floor becomes bigger, changing the equilibrium and the sound of the experience. the pavilion recompresses next to the exit, outlining the view of the arsenale watchtower on the other side of the canal and bringing the visitors back to the venice biennale environment.

the form tapers and constricts
photo © marco cappelletti

the site includes seating that continues from the chinese pavilion
photo © marco cappelletti

the pavilion at night
photo © marco cappelletti

sketch through the perimeter
photo © TCA think tank 

construction process
photo © marco cappelletti

detail of the construction
photo © marco cappelletti

the grid of coordinates
photo © TCA think tank 

model of the arches
photo © marco cappelletti

rendering

project info:

designer: pier alessio rizzardi
design team: martin huba, zhang hankun
workshop team: muratori martina, jocelyn fu, regina kaluzny, siyin wang, lucia bertaggia, maria bertaggia, hu yalin, alessandro zorzetto, edoardo giancola, ilgin ezgi tunc
in collaboration with: hsieh ying chun of WEAK! architects
reference: ‘cacoon’ by WEAK! architects in UABB 2009
curator: jiang jun of urban china magazine
photography: marco cappelletti
location: venice, italy
site: 150 sqm garden pavilion by li hu OPEN architecture
building footprint: 65 sqm
materials: PVC pipes, plastic ties, wire, metal net, gravel, nonwoven fabric
construction: 16-19 september 2014

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.