Rollercoaster

Situated in a tranquil environment of one of the best vocational schools in Beijing, the project aims at providing an iconic image to the institution as well as redefining the use of an existing public space on the central square of the campus.

The central square was originally occupied by a monumental sculpture with a huge pedestal. However the obvious problem of the square is actually a severe lack of effective public space that would allow students to gather and communicate. What the school really needs is not a monument in the center of the campus, but a humanistic and functional gathering space for students and an event space for school activities.

Therefore, with the intention to create an efficient public space, we proposed a continuous self-folding belt structure that resembles the image of a “roller coaster”. The structure can be perceived as a ribbon that folds and bends three-dimensionally to create a series of spaces such as open gardens, shaded pavilions and exhibition corridors. As the roof beams of the pavilion bend downwards and become wall screens and benches, the structure expresses a formal continuity well combined with different functions. The pavilion snakes around the existing trees on the site so they are well-preserved and maximally utilized for shading.

In terms of material, the pavilion is supported by a series of steel columns with stainless steel cladding. The blurry and distorted reflections on round stainless steel surface make the columns look skinnier and taller, which make the pavilion appears more spacious. Roof beams are made of steel space frame and eco-wood was used for exterior cladding. Wall and roof screens are made of eco-wood louvers which have a translucent effect when evenly spaced out. The pavilion looks lighter, more transparent and has a lantern effect when viewed at night.

The rollercoaster-like pavilion presents a highly recognizable identity to the school as well as a fun image that was widely welcomed by the students.