3-To-1 PAVILION
SHANGHAI 2024
3-to-1
Pavilion is a contemporary wooden pavilion nestled in a lush garden setting in
Shanghai, designed as a serene sanctuary for tea drinking. This contemporary
structure embodies the interplay between time (时间), space (空间), and people (人间),
emphasizing the concept of 'in-between' or 'interstitial' spaces. The pavilion
serves as a place for tea ceremonies, contemplative rituals, and social
gatherings, encapsulating the essence of tranquility and self-reflection.
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The pavilion's sleek, triangular form sits gracefully amidst trees, rocks, and water, metaphorically representing the interconnection of time, space, and people. Its shape provides a clear directional focus, guiding visitors on a journey from the casual gatherings to the contemplative. The design culminates in a narrow, tall opening that frames a view of the garden behind, creating a powerful visual connection with nature.
Progressive
Structure
From the exterior, the pavilion appears as a solid, mysterious form. Its structure consists of 30 incrementally changing rectangular frames, which create a gradual progression as one approaches and enters the space. The interior becomes narrower and taller, leading to the framed view of the pond beyond. This progression crafts a sequenced spatial narrative that mirrors the journey from the mundane to the contemplative, encouraging visitors to reflect and deepen their connection with the environment.

Triangle - Geometry
The pavilion's sleek, triangular form sits gracefully amidst trees, rocks, and water, metaphorically representing the interconnection of time, space, and people. Its shape provides a clear directional focus, guiding visitors on a journey from the casual gatherings to the contemplative. The design culminates in a narrow, tall opening that frames a view of the garden behind, creating a powerful visual connection with nature.
Progressive
Structure
From the exterior, the pavilion appears as a solid, mysterious form. Its structure consists of 30 incrementally changing rectangular frames, which create a gradual progression as one approaches and enters the space. The interior becomes narrower and taller, leading to the framed view of the pond beyond. This progression crafts a sequenced spatial narrative that mirrors the journey from the mundane to the contemplative, encouraging visitors to reflect and deepen their connection with the environment.
Light
Filter
Vertical
louvered columns form the pavilion's distinctive silhouette, acting as a
sophisticated filter for natural light. This design creates an ever-changing
interplay of shadows that evolve throughout the day and seasons, symbolizing
the passage of time and enhancing the meditative atmosphere of the space. The
subtle interaction between architecture and environment not only marks temporal
changes but also creates a serene tea experience.
Charred Wood - Material
Charred wood (employing the yakisugi technique) is not only aesthetically striking but also preserves the wood by carbonizing its surface to be water-resistant. The process of charring evokes notions of purification and renewal through fire in various cultures and beliefs, as its dark, textured appearance cultivates a somber, introspective atmosphere. The charred wood allows the structure to integrate harmoniously with its natural context while maintaining a distinct architectural presence, reinforcing the pavilion's role as a mediator between the built and natural environments.
3-to-1 Pavilion stands as a poetic architectural sanctuary, demonstrating how spaces can blur the boundaries between everyday life and contemplative ritual. By creating a deep sensory experience in connection to the surrounding environment, this structure invites visitors to pause, reflect, and engage in meaningful rituals. The pavilion showcases the potential of small-scale structures to profoundly impact our perception of space, time, and our place within the natural context.





















LIGHT FILTER
BEIJING 2024
This light installation is an exploration at the confluence
of light, geometry, and materiality. Constructed from 50mm thick acrylic
CNC-milled into triangular sectional channels, this work transforms into an
immersive optical piece, continually reshaping its visual impact through
interaction with light and the viewer’s movement. Its 30mm solid
stainless-steel base provides a grounded weight and structure, juxtaposing the
acrylic’s visual lightness to create a duality of mass and transparency.
As a non-site-specific installation, this work occupies a liminal space between light sculpture, art installation, and designed object. Its geometry and material properties exploit acrylic’s refractive and reflective qualities, filtering, bending, and refracting light to generate shifting optical patterns. These patterns evolve as viewers alter their positions, resulting in a constantly renewing visual dialogue that emphasizes the viewer’s active role in completing the experience. Rather than a static object, the work is an interactive canvas for light, inviting participation as integral to its full realization.
As a non-site-specific installation, this work occupies a liminal space between light sculpture, art installation, and designed object. Its geometry and material properties exploit acrylic’s refractive and reflective qualities, filtering, bending, and refracting light to generate shifting optical patterns. These patterns evolve as viewers alter their positions, resulting in a constantly renewing visual dialogue that emphasizes the viewer’s active role in completing the experience. Rather than a static object, the work is an interactive canvas for light, inviting participation as integral to its full realization.
This piece
embodies a dynamic, relational presence, activated by its surroundings and the
interactions it elicits. Like architecture, which finds its essence in the
poetry of light and human interaction within spaces, this sculpture is
activated through its engagement with light, environment, and audience. It asks
us to reconsider the boundaries of form and space, encouraging fluidity and responsiveness
as essential design principles. It reminds us of our shared spatial connections
and the unseen relationships woven through light, place, and human presence.
Exhibited at the Guardian Art Center in Beijing as part of the “Common Habitat” exhibition, it prompts viewers to reflect on the intersections of individual perception and shared experience, positioning itself as a living entity within our collective spatial environment.
Exhibited at the Guardian Art Center in Beijing as part of the “Common Habitat” exhibition, it prompts viewers to reflect on the intersections of individual perception and shared experience, positioning itself as a living entity within our collective spatial environment.









X MUSEUM
BEIJING 2020 xmuseum.org
X Museum is designed to become a new cultural place for the younger generation in the city of Beijing. Contemporary art is constantly evolving in our time of endless information and their complex intersections. How should one shape our cultural spaces in response to such times of uncertainty?
TEMP aims to rethink how art spaces could be imagined first by asking the most basic questions as in how a painting should be hung on a wall. Custom made terracotta bricks are extruded with horizontal slots to which metal clips can be installed to hang artworks. Paintings, installations, projectors, and even white walls could be hung onto this wall system. There is an overflow of white and concrete box museums. X Museum offers a newer way of installing and showing artworks.
The letter X is used as the main symbol of the museum at the entrance as an intersection of two H-beams supporting each other structurally. The crossed-braced structure holds the large curving roof that is perforated to filter patterns of light into the entrance space. The diagram of the X composed of two lines is signified as the most basic form of interaction. The museum also dedicates itself to being multidisciplinary show not only artists, but also architects, scientists, engineers, musicians, and designers.
The South Façade is covered with a matrix of 54 steel light boxes. These protruded rectilinear structures cast an array of shadows onto the grey stucco wall. The angle and the lengths of the shadows constantly change throughout the day according to the solar position. Downlights are also embedded into the box to light up the façade creating another kind of pattern during the nighttime. These structures can also be used to hang large posters or displays that may be required by the museum for different events.
X Museum is an art space that encourages innovation and stimulates unknown possibilities. The design of the museum is a statement showing how a contemporary museum could be re-imagined. It is a one-of-a-kind center for creatives of all disciplines based in the heart of Beijing.















SOUL ART CENTER
798 BEIJING 2022
Founded by a former media executive, the art center is the latest
establishment in Beijing's 798 district. Nestled in one of the buildings on the
main street, it gets a touch of history symbolic of the Soviet-German-China
industrial partnerships from the 1950s. In the 90s, these Bauhaus structures
became the breeding ground for an emboldened artistic community, paving the way
for a neighborhood hosting cutting-edge galleries and boutiques.
The project takes its name from "sòng 頌". Despite its similarity to *song* in English, it embodies more than the art of music. This poetic format originates from rituals that chant ode to higher beings with reverence.
No culture lives without rituals. Commissioned to give the space an ambitious new start, TEMP revitalizes the space with a drastically different approach from its previous tenants. Referencing ritual sites from across culture, the team carefully crafted an unassuming journey singing to art, an ode to its secular spirituality.
At its entrance, shimmering glass bricks envelop the building's original red bricks, gracefully illuminating the juxtaposition of opacity and transparency, history and modernity.
A short narrow tunnel admits visitors with a sense of mystery. Circulation then splits into a lounge area on the second floor and a main exhibition hall on the first. As one strolls deep into the hall, the spatial volumes increase at each turn, dramatically opening up the vision for a hall of 8-meters high at its center.
TEMP designed curving overheads that gently weighs down the sawtooth roof from its industrial days. The repetitive waves, like clouds, hint at the changing sky seen through the skylights, allowing ethereal natural light to bathe the hall throughout the day.
The project takes its name from "sòng 頌". Despite its similarity to *song* in English, it embodies more than the art of music. This poetic format originates from rituals that chant ode to higher beings with reverence.
No culture lives without rituals. Commissioned to give the space an ambitious new start, TEMP revitalizes the space with a drastically different approach from its previous tenants. Referencing ritual sites from across culture, the team carefully crafted an unassuming journey singing to art, an ode to its secular spirituality.
Grandeur Contemplation
At its entrance, shimmering glass bricks envelop the building's original red bricks, gracefully illuminating the juxtaposition of opacity and transparency, history and modernity.
A short narrow tunnel admits visitors with a sense of mystery. Circulation then splits into a lounge area on the second floor and a main exhibition hall on the first. As one strolls deep into the hall, the spatial volumes increase at each turn, dramatically opening up the vision for a hall of 8-meters high at its center.
TEMP designed curving overheads that gently weighs down the sawtooth roof from its industrial days. The repetitive waves, like clouds, hint at the changing sky seen through the skylights, allowing ethereal natural light to bathe the hall throughout the day.
A Ritualistic Journey
In all cultures, lights serve both practical and spiritual purposes. Where natural light doesn't hit, artificial lights continue to accord with a wholesome ritualistic experience.
Between the industrial framework and the new curving overhang, LED strip lights are installed behind the curves, washing up the vaults and bounce off soft light as the day winds down. Along stairs and pathways, up lights are fitted into narrow clefts, whispering fainting light of sedation.
Adding to this sanctuary of art are recesses of different shapes. Designed to frame art objects of various sizes, they draw the eyes and act as secular altars for art awaiting appreciation.
A contrast of neutral colors sets the character of the art center. Beige plaster and wooden floor create a warm environment that the founder envisioned for visitors. On the other hand, walls of ash grey lead them visually to secondary spaces like art shops and receptions.
Intimate Restoration
TEMP takes advantage of the unique 2-floor configuration to create further contrast. While the first floor encourages grandeur contemplation, the second inspires intimate restoration.
Partitions are installed to isolate smaller rooms from each other. TEMP stylizes their connections tenderly for a journey of curious exploration. Slit opening allows a sneak peek into a cloistered tea room, while steps, lower openings, and niches become scattered reminders of devotion.
As the founder endeavors to create a multidimensional magazine for art, TEMP combines flexible functionality and contemplative impression, one serving artistic creativity and another, humanistic yearnings.




























