LIGHT PAVILION: under construction (updated May 30)

The Light Pavilion is finally under construction. Located within a large complex of mixed-use buildings—the Sliced Porosity Block—CapitaLand Raffles City Chengdu, China—designed by Steven Holl Architects, this ‘building within a building’ was designed by me with the collaboration of Christoph a. Kumpusch, beginning in 2008. After struggling through many crises of budget, finding a willing and capable builder, not to mention the global ‘financial meltdown’ of 2008-9, the project is now proceeding rapidly towards a construction deadline of mid-Summer, 2012. Because I thought it might be instructive or, better, fun to track its progress, this post will be updated as construction proceeds.  Refer to this previous post for design and construction documents.

All photos are by Manta Weihermann/Steven Holl Architects.

LW

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(below) May, 30, 2012. Two of the structural cores of the illuminated end beams are welded into place.

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Steel tubes for the secondary structural system, prepared for assembly and placement:

(below) May 28, 2012. The construction scaffolding has been removed. The first of three structural cores of illuminated end beams is being raised into place. The structural steel stringers for stairs and platforms are being completed:

 

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(below) May 22, 2012. Secondary tubular structural system being installed among steel stringers for stairs and platforms:

(below) May 16, 2012. Welders working on the structural steel stringers for stairs and platforms:

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(below) April 14. 2012. Construction scaffolding in the space of the Light Pavilion, with safety net:

(below) April 10, 2012. Construction scaffolding in the space of the Light Pavilion. completed:

(below) April 5, 2012. Construction scaffolding is being put in place within the space of the Light Pavilion:

(below) March 28, 2012. The structural steel cores of the three illuminated horizontal beams that will support the glass and steel platforms have been placed:

Views from inside the space of the Light Pavilion:

View of the Light Pavilion space from one of the other buildings defining what will become the CapitaLand Raffles City public space:

Look for updates to this post as construction proceeds.

(below)  March 27, 2012. Two more structural steel cores are in place. Already it is evident that the illuminated columns are not placed in a “riot” of angles, but form a direction and flow, dynamically animating the Light Pavilion space within the Cartesian frame of the CapitaLand Raffles City buildings:

Above photo by Manta Weihermann/Steven Holl Architects.

(below) March 26, 2012. Erection of the structural steel cores of the illuminated columns has begun. The Light Pavilion site as seen from the CapitaLand Raffles City plaza:

The site from the plaza, with the first structural cores in place:

View from inside the Light Pavilion space:

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Look for updates to this post as construction proceeds.

A recent news article by Fred Bernstein in Architectural Record.

(below) March 19, 2012. The structural steel cores of the illuminated  columns, which will be encased in polycarbonate ‘sleeves’ are fabricated and on the site. Steven Holl,  the architect of the CapitaLand Raffles City complex is at the center of this photo:

The structural steel cores are visible in cross-section here. Erection of this structural steel is the next step and is due for completion in the next two or three weeks.

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(below) Original concept drawing by LW of the illuminated column:

(below) Developed design of the illuminated column, in collaboration with Christoph a Kumpusch:

TO BE CONTINUED. Check this post for updates over the next weeks.

OF NOTE: Article provokes a storm of criticism of the Light Pavilion, CapitaLand Raffles City, and their architects. See Comments section following the article.