‘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 - 2 rendering

amid.cero9 at venice architecture biennale 2010 - 3 in jerte valley

amid.cero9 at venice architecture biennale 2010 - 4 in context

amid.cero9 at venice architecture biennale 2010 - 5 model study

amid.cero9 at venice architecture biennale 2010 - 6 inside of model

amid.cero9 at venice architecture biennale 2010 - 7 detail

amid.cero9 at venice architecture biennale 2010 - 8

amid.cero9 at venice architecture biennale 2010 - 9 efrén garcía grinda and cristina díaz moreno of amid.cero9 working on the model

amid.cero9 at venice architecture biennale 2010 - 10

amid.cero9 at venice architecture biennale 2010 - 11

amid.cero9 at venice architecture biennale 2010 - 12 site plan

amid.cero9 at venice architecture biennale 2010 - 13 exploded axo

amid.cero9 at venice architecture biennale 2010 - 14 roof plan

amid.cero9 at venice architecture biennale 2010 - 15 floor plan

amid.cero9 at venice architecture biennale 2010 - 16 cristina díaz moreno and efrén garcía grinda of amid.cero9