Pavilion for the Jinhua Architecture Park, China

Photograph by Iwan Baan, courtesy of Christ & Gantenbein.

Words from the Architect

Within a public park - designed by the Chinese artist AiWeiWei - along the Wujiang River in the outback of Shanghai among many newly planted trees, the Ancient Tree seems to be there from time immemorial. With its widespread voluminous canopy of leaves and its knaggy branches it seems to be even older than the river, the streets and the building development. It establishes a habitation for people, spending shelter from rain and sun as well as from a far too perfect environment. Its deliberate imperfection emphasises its nativeness amongst the new designed geometric landscape surrounding.

Photograph by Iwan Baan, courtesy of Christ & Gantenbein.

Since The Ancient tree was built of concrete only, it will weather during the years to come and it will queue with the traditional elements of a Chinese garden. The branches and the leaves, all shaped in organic undulating forms, evoke an image closer to a plant than to a technical construction. The Ancient tree does not claim to be a pavilion or architecture - it refers itself to its origin: the tree.

Photograph by Iwan Baan, courtesy of Christ & Gantenbein.

Photograph by Iwan Baan, courtesy of Christ & Gantenbein.

Credits

• Text: Christ & Gantenbein
• Photographs: Iwan Baan

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