‘cherry tree blossom’ by amid.cero9 in jerte valley, spain all images courtesy amid.cero9

exhibiting at this year’s venice architecture biennale, ‘cherry tree blossom’ by madrid-based architectural office amid.cero9 (cristina díaz moreno and efrén garcía grinda) is a structure set in the middle of the jerte valley in spain. the site is unique for its single-species cherry orchards that transform the landscape every year.

the lightweight roof of ‘cherry tree blossom’ is composed of fabric and a three-dimensional structural system made of slender interwoven steel. the resulting form is an organic ‘modern chapel’ with bevelled openings punctured throughout the surface. light enters the shelter in streams, creating a cave-like experience for its inhabitants.

amid.cero9 at venice architecture biennale 2010 rendering

amid.cero9 at venice architecture biennale 2010 in jerte valley

amid.cero9 at venice architecture biennale 2010 in context

amid.cero9 at venice architecture biennale 2010 model study

amid.cero9 at venice architecture biennale 2010 inside of model

amid.cero9 at venice architecture biennale 2010 detail

amid.cero9 at venice architecture biennale 2010

amid.cero9 at venice architecture biennale 2010 efrén garcía grinda and cristina díaz moreno of amid.cero9 working on the model

amid.cero9 at venice architecture biennale 2010

amid.cero9 at venice architecture biennale 2010

amid.cero9 at venice architecture biennale 2010 site plan

amid.cero9 at venice architecture biennale 2010 exploded axo

amid.cero9 at venice architecture biennale 2010 roof plan

amid.cero9 at venice architecture biennale 2010 floor plan

amid.cero9 at venice architecture biennale 2010 cristina díaz moreno and efrén garcía grinda of amid.cero9