□W9

The □W9 pavilion is conceived as a temporary amphitheatre with static and dynamic elements that blur the lines between architectural objects and human subjects and between artistic performers and spectators. The pavilion is a flexible civic space that performs as a stage, workshop, or even playground.

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Born into the lush greenery of the nursery garden, □ (square), W (double-u) and 9 (nine) are three rooms nestled side-by-side in mounds of soft landscape and lawn. Each of the characters, by virtue of their geometric layout, provides a semi-enclosed room that is partially unveiled to enable flexibility in circulation and stage configuration for drama, dance and music performances.

The three characters are draped with a layer of cloth-like structure. Drapery, rather than obscuring the rooms, has amplified the bodily expression of □, W, and 9 through the tension and relief of drapery, as well as the ability to suck, sprawl, nestle, suckle and snuggle. At the same time, the crests and troughs of the cloth formed a roofscape that opens up possibilities of a dynamic stage setting for performance arts. Apart from hosting performances, the pavilion appears to have become a performer when it playfully emanates bubbles through its orifices periodically throughout the day. The pavilion has come to life.

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The □W9 pavilion is more than just an architectural object. Anticipating the blossoming of the West Kowloon Cultural District, □W9 pavilion, as a temporary structure, is a harbinger to propel the ambitious Cultural District into maturation. With the breadth of artistic and cultural activities it enables, the pavilion sets out to cross-pollinate across different fields of arts and cultural production and appreciation, and ultimately elevates the unique arts and culture of the city into the international cultural scene.

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This submission was created by Team Odradek. Members of the team include Anthony Chu, Tim Yeung and Anselm Cheung.