london-based practice, IF_DO, designs the dulwich pavilion — a new temporary events pavilion at the dulwich picture gallery — which engages with the adjacent buildings, landscape, and visitors alike, for this year’s london festival of architecture in the united kingdom. the emerging architecture group proposes a marriage of moving mirrored screens, a wide-spanning timber roof and a bright metal mesh to form the background of a summer of artistic and cultural events while paying tribute to sir john soane’s dulwich picture gallery on its 200th anniversary since opening. the pavilion is a transformative project for the dulwich picture gallery, a breakthrough moment for a young architecture practice, and an important legacy for the london festival of architecture 2017.

IF_DO's dulwich pavilion brings out the brilliance of london's architectural scene
the pavilion joins adjacent buildings, landscape, and visitors

 

 

during the autumn of 2016, the london festival of architecture and dulwich picture gallery launched the pavilion design competition. entrants were challenged to design a modern response to the original soane building and its surrounding landscape, while working with a modest construction budget of just over $120,000. IF_DO architects overcame the competition from a field of 75 entries with their ‘after image’ design for the dulwich pavilion. it was chosen by a judging panel of leading architectural and cultural figures.

IF_DO's dulwich pavilion brings out the brilliance of london's architectural scene
the dulwich pavilion is a response to the original soane building and its surrounding environment

 

 

IF_DO’s design is based on an extensible communication with sir john soane’s gallery building and the ever-changing nature of the landscape. structurally the pavilion is lightweight and minimal, comprising a timber truss roof overlaid with a mesh veil creating a canopy-like environment that enhances the layering of images and the interplay of space, perception and memory: this year’s london festival of architecture theme. the roof configuration is suspended over a level timber deck supported on three fixed slender mirrored panels. the reflective quality of the mirrored screens reflects and disrupts the context. fragments of the building appear in the landscape, and fragments of the landscape in the building. all of the remaining wall panels are moveable or removable, creating a flexible space enabling numerous configurations for different events.

IF_DO's dulwich pavilion brings out the brilliance of london's architectural scene
emerging and established talent should sit side by side in a city that is constantly reinventing itself

IF_DO's dulwich pavilion brings out the brilliance of london's architectural scene
a timber truss roof is suspended over a level timber deck supported on fixed slender mirrored panels

IF_DO's dulwich pavilion brings out the brilliance of london's architectural scenethe pavilion’s structure is developed through close collaboration between architects, engineers and fabricators

IF_DO's dulwich pavilion brings out the brilliance of london's architectural scenethe pavilion has been designed to allow efficient construction and minimum environmental impact

IF_DO's dulwich pavilion brings out the brilliance of london's architectural scene
a unique public structure in an exceptional setting

IF_DO's dulwich pavilion brings out the brilliance of london's architectural scene
it is a building that offers a delightful solution to practical problems

IF_DO's dulwich pavilion brings out the brilliance of london's architectural scene
the pavilion extends into the surrounding landscape allowing the gallery to meet increasing visitor demand 

IF_DO's dulwich pavilion brings out the brilliance of london's architectural scene
a flexible space enabling numerous configurations for different events

IF_DO's dulwich pavilion brings out the brilliance of london's architectural scene
fragments of the building appear in the landscape, and fragments of the landscape in the building

IF_DO's dulwich pavilion brings out the brilliance of london's architectural scene
the dulwich pavilion opens to the public on june 2nd and will be open until october 8th 2017