A long, horizontal wooden structure peeks through the woods on a narrow peninsula, its open frame standing out as its defining feature. This public pavilion is both a showcase of prized local pine wood and a tribute to a unique history of pine resin production in the area.
Located in Lishui, China, “Pine Park Pavilion” by DnA Architects is set along a paved connecting path on the Songyin River leading to the village of Huangyu. Its purpose is “a tourism infrastructure that enables cyclists and hikers to experience the region.” Inside is an art installation showing how the pine resin was produced and how it’s used.
“Pine Pavilion is a linear structure spreading out alongside Songyin River dam and facing Xiahuangyu village across a fishpond. Wooden structural panels slice up the building to divide the program, preserve pine trees and create passages from the dam to the fishpond. Pine trees are framed into the space and become the major theme. In fact, the main economical income of Xiahuangyu villagers comes from pine resin production. A sequence of glass panels attached with resin production images is installed into structural frames to introduce this village pine production context. The building itself is a large scale miniature landscape bonsai of this pine forest.”
“The elongated pavilion consists of four segments. The building elements are separated with glass surfaces, on which the production of resin is illustrated in an artistically alienated manner, thus giving rise to one picture in combination with the already existing group of trees around the pavilion.”
“The simple wooden building with its clear constructive structure serves as a resting place at the dam on the river and provides information about a traditional method of producing resin. It consequently combines information about the location with a tourism infrastructure that links history and future for visitors in a playful manner.”
As you can see, the timber frame of the pavilion is constructed differently from the “timber frame” architecture we love here in the United States. But its simple, uncluttered beauty is obvious, enhanced even more by the use of so much glass on the walls and ceilings. It’s essentially a love letter to pine, demonstrating its importance to the local culture, and that’s something we can understand, as well.
