Sited in London, Pavilion T is a semi-permanent summer pavilion situated in the courtyard of the adjacent Lightbox building. With an allowable footprint of 35 square meters and a maximum height of 4 meters, the pavilion serves as an exhibition space, a formal presentation space and an informal gathering space satisfying multiple use requirements throughout the changing seasons. Reacting to the rigorously straightforward geometry of the tunnels associated with the neighboring Basingstoke Canal as well as the non-orthogonal growth of the trees dotted along the water’s edge, the negotiation between inside and outside is mediated and reconciled through the use of a skeletal wooden structure coupled with a stretched translucent skin.

Manufactured with a zero-waste mandate, the pavilion explores a method of assembling a temporary structure with minimal environmental impact. All components are cut to variable lengths; however, all depths are kept to 244mm, minimizing off-cut waste by maximizing the 1220mm x 2440mm modular allowance mandated by the competition organizers. Wood cells are bolted and assembled off-site into relatively small, fragmented, manageable and, most important, lightweight modules allowing for easy mobility, storage and shipment. Given the relative ease of assembly, the pavilion can be constructed within 72 hours and dismantled in 24 hours.

A translucent fabric is stretched over the wooden skeleton, acting as a skin that controls and diffuses U.V. light during daytime conditions, whereas the same skin then transforms at night by inverting itself into a glowing lantern along the water's edge. Patterned to mimic the foliage found along the river embankment, the pavilion-as-chameleon is an intentional counterpoint to the heavy architectural palette already existing on site.