Shade Assembly
A folded fan opens into a public room where different forms of participation share one roof.
The idea
A folded fan opens into a public room where different forms of participation share one roof. Provide a recognisable civic meeting place that supports both public programmes and ordinary unplanned use. The proposal uses the folding fan as a source for organising the place, not simply as a decorative object.
How the place takes shape
Radial timber shade blades spread above an accessible civic plaza. Their stepped stone base holds a speaking circle, long communal seats and quiet planted pockets. Clear level paths pass through the fan geometry rather than stopping at it. The central transformation combines the source geometry with everyday functions: arrival, movement, rest and participation use the same family of forms. Material changes mark the transitions without breaking the identity of the whole place.
A different approach reveals open neighbourhood approach through the shade blades, connecting the entrance to the wider place.
Open neighbourhood approach through the shade blades
The first threshold explains the setting through a clear view of what visitors can do next. People can enter directly or pause at its edge.
Shared speaking and performance circle
The main encounter invites participation through the physical arrangement. A parallel clear route lets other visitors watch or continue without joining in.
Visitors use shared speaking and performance circle, with the surrounding structure keeping the activity connected to the rest of the project.
Quiet garden seats facing everyday movement
The final chapter lowers the pace and offers a useful place to sit, reflect or meet. A visible connection returns people to the entry and the surrounding destination.
Designed for everyday use
The proposal remains legible during normal operation, with its core functions expressed through structure, circulation and useful surfaces. Optional lighting or programmed activity can add another layer without carrying the whole concept. Detailed site planning, access, structure, materials, services and operating requirements would be developed with the client and specialist team.
At quiet garden seats facing everyday movement, the closer view shows how materials, seating and everyday use belong to the same place.