Digitally designed

Futuristic yet soaked in a local flavour, this thin shell pavilion in China sets the design benchmark very high.

XISUI Design has designed a thin-shell metal woven pavilion in Hefei City, Anhui Province, China. Situated over a pool, it serves as a resting place offering shelter from wind and sun, while still inviting natural light to penetrate its interior.

This pavilion introduces a novel approach to digital metal construction. Its segmented metal shell is inspired by the bionic weaving appearance of birds’ nests, and the structural principles of arched force transmission found in eggshells, which the team has studied in depth. The design features an integrated ultra-thin shell and a centripetal dome, aimed at fostering a pure and serene experience that promotes inner contemplation and peace.

Spanning 11 meters over water, the pavilion is constructed utilising minimal materials and manual labour to generate a unique architectural space. The project explores new possibilities in design, engineering, and fabrication through continuous computational testing with interdisciplinary teams.

Here are 4 key reasons why this project shatters the traditional norms of design

1. INTEGRATED STRUCTURAL SKIN – THE SHELL WORKS AS A STRUCTURE

Typically, a pavilion with an 11x8 meter span requires a substantial supporting framework. This project challenges that convention with a keelfree design, realised through a doubly curved structure that uses only a thin shell surface for load-bearing.

Wind and gravity load calculations showed that just 2 layers of 2.5 mm thick metal plate segments were sufficient to achieve a span 4,400 times their thickness. As an effective structural form, the shell efficiently distributes loads, using principles similar to ancient vaulted buildings and natural bird eggshells. This design ensures both stability and efficiency, minimising material usage while maintaining the pavilion’s aesthetic integrity and elegance.

2. EASY-TO-BUILD DIGITAL CONSTRUCTION