Laoyuting Pavilion in Kunming
Atelier Deshaus- Type Pavilion Prefabrication
- Material Metal Steel
- Date 2024
- City Kunming
- Country China
- Photograph Wang Ce
Located in the Laoyu River Wetland Park at Dianchi Lake, this pavilion initially served as the entrance to the 2024 Dianchi Art Festival. When the event ended, the structure was preserved as a marker for entering the park, a key area within the urban water-purification system, the final stage of natural filtration before water reaches the lake.
With a surface area of 171 m², the building has a steel structure composed of slender columns – 40 mm in diameter – and a stepped roof. The roof lets light in, fragmented, and gives partial views of the sky and the treetops around. From a distance, its silhouette is reminiscent of the hipped roofs of traditional Chinese architecture, diluting the industrial look of steel while establishing a dialogue with the cultural and landscape context.
The park's strict environmental-protection regulations required that the foundations not alter the existing terrain. To achieve this, steel plates were placed directly on the natural surface. The base of each column is fixed on a 10-square-centimeter solid steel block, which acts as a ‘micro-foundation.’ This system, together with the use of prefabricated components assembled on site, minimizes the project’s impact on the ground.
The pavilion is made up of repeated modules that combine six columns and flat or sloped steel plates. This configuration creates a variable spatial rhythm and different densities, achieved by overlapping elements. Loads are transmitted to the upper levels through smaller supports that hold up the roof layers.









