Dragon Skin Pavilion by LEAD and EDGE, photo by Dennis Lo
A young Hong Kong and Antwerp-based architectural design and research practice LEAD and EDGE – Laboratory for Architectural and Urban Research from Finnish Tampere University of Technology have joined their creative forces to develop this striking pavilion designed for the the 2011-12 Hong Kong & Shenzhen Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture. Formed of a tight array of scale-like, overlapping bent plywood sheets, is took the team six hours to assemble the self-supporting Dragon Skin Pavilion which is on view until 23 April at Shenzhen Pavilion, Kowloon Park – Roof Garden 2, Hong Kong.
Dragon Skin Pavilion by LEAD and EDGE, photo by Dennis Lo
More about the project:
‘The Pavilion utilises a newly developed environmentally friendly material called “post-formable” plywood, which incorporates layers of adhesive film to allow easy single-curved bending without the need for steam or extreme heat. With no material loss, a CNC mill divided 21 of these 8×4 plywood sheets into eight identical squares, and accurately cut the unique connection slots that were programmed into the pavilion geometry by computer.
‘Using one single mould, all panels were bent into the same shape, and within six hours the numbered shells were slotted into place without using any plan drawings, glue or screws. The underlying equilibrium surface geometry removed all internal forces and deformations from the pavilion, which became a self-supporting, free-standing, light-weight skin with highly tactile tectonic properties and unique lighting effects.’
Dragon Skin Pavilion - exterior perspective by nigh; photo by Dennis Lo
Dragon Skin Pavilion - exterior close-up by night; photo by Dennis Lo
Interior perspective; photo by Dennis Lo
Dragon Skin Pavilion - interior view
Interior close-up - shell connection; photo by Dennis Lo
Exterior close-up; photo by Dennis Lo
Single-curved bending process
Plywood elements
Component production sequence and shell drawings
Perspective and section
to the Dragon Skin Project website
to LEAD, Laboratory for Architectural and Urban Research website
to EDGE, Laboratory for Architectural and Urban Research website
