Project Description

The Outside-In Pavilion simulates the forest itself with the wood braces that resemble trunks and branches of varying heights. The structure is an exploratory space that connects the user to the surrounding wooded landscape. The structure also incircles an existing tree without
touching it due to the square framing configuration and steel posts at the base of the main cell. A spiral stairway of wood treads, with stainless steel brackets, allows access to the structure. There are exterior-grade plywood strips between the cells. Most of the enclosure has a roof decking but a couple of them are left open, where a Ghulam ring frames the sky. Tightening a sense of adventure, the tree structure contains a rooftop hideout, an alternate rope entryway, cantilever platforms, and mesh hammock and monkey bars. General Description of building, program, and design concepts with integrated text images and sketches
We chose the Outside-In Pavilion because it heightens one’s awareness of nature by uniquely framing panoramic views of the untamed words beyond, enhancing its mystery. The tree structure straddles the line between a man-made and natural world. The comforting atmosphere and relationship to the nature of the space are enticing to the viewer making it a
wonderful choice to model. Additionally, there is a diverse number of materials in the project allowing us to work with multiple materials when constructing the structure model. Finally, the pavilion varies in what is and is not structure; some of the wooden columns that “barrier”
the inside from the outside are structural to the project as it supports the roof, while some have no roof to support and are, therefore, not necessary to support the structure. This makes the project intriguing to model as we must undergo careful consideration of what to construct in our structural model of the project.

The design of the project directly informs the structure of the Outside-In Pavilion. Meant to be a “dynamic design”
the pavilion was meant to capture light and the sky, essentially allowing nature to penetrate the space. Therefore,
it blends the line of what is inside and outside, in feel and visibility. With this mindset and a love for environmental
conservation, the pavilion was built with construction waste and salvaged refuge and formed to “mimic” the surrounding
forest. With nature on the minds of the architects, it only made sense to allow the occupant to view their surroundings from the inside of the pavilion. Because of this, a series of wooden columns were placed around the circumference of several circular pods with pinned connections as the top and bottom. While these columns allow for plentiful visibility to the outside, as intended by the design concept, alone they are not enough to support the structure from lateral loads. To sustain proper visibility, a sort of continuous “mid-beam” was placed within the columns of each individual pod. This beam (below the average human sightline) does not impede the view and it successfully supports the structure in resisting any applied lateral loads.
Finally, to literally, and sensually, elevate the occupant, the entire structure is raised from the ground by several steel columns that are fixed to each pod. This creates an almost “levitation” effect for the occupant as the majority of
the structure is cantilevered from the columns and the sightlines become significantly elevated off the ground. This removes the connection to the earth for the occupant so they can contemplate and relax as if they were “floating” within a natural landscape, going above and beyond the penetrative effect nature was to have on the design of the space.