Our mission was to complete a temporary landscape structure on a limited budget (30,000RMB) during the opening of the lake area. As the budget was indeed very tight, our starting point was first of all the materials we had at hand that could be used directly.

Bamboo is a cheap material readily available in Sichuan, China. It is both strong and somewhat resilient, and by simple, steaming methods, although it will slowly discolour, it will allow the bamboo to remain in a relatively usable state for six to eight months, after which time it will naturally degrade. This starting point gives the pavilion a very relaxed feeling of being ready to use at will. The bamboo itself is the structure, not set in too rigid a connection, it is a slightly movable pavilion. The bamboo, the linen and the wood provide some elasticity of touch and sound. We wanted the pavilion to provide a tactile sensation that might be difficult to feel in a building that is usually sitting upright, with a very soft light in spring and early summer, thus inspiring more people to be active outdoors.

We have used more than 100 pieces of bamboo, about 50 mm diameter, to form a three-piece structure that encloses an upward space. A small space is provided, which we hope will accommodate a standing person. The height of the floor is just the right size to allow people to sit comfortably. At one end, we have arranged the space so that two or three people can sit opposite each other. The length of the bamboo varies with the angle of inclination. The big space of the square and the small scale enclosed by the pavilion create a sort of mutual relationship.

The construction process does have its fair share of surprises, and no matter how fine the bamboo work is, it will face some uncontrollable factors. From selecting the bamboo, to transporting it, to installing it, every detail needs to be carefully controlled, otherwise it could end up unassembled. But bamboo is a natural material and it is very difficult to get to the end of the pavilion without a very natural, open and accepting mindset. It feels like bamboo work is a kind of practice. From the very beginning we wanted to present a relaxed state, so that everyone who came to the pavilion would find it unobtrusively and then be very comfortable to use it. Using natural construction to create a state of natural use makes us feel that there is no better material than bamboo to build with.