Architect Aurelien Chen designed Dragon Mountain Pavilion, an installation recreating an ethereal and abstract version of a traditional Chinese landscape.
-text by the author
Above all else, this installation is a landmark placed by the roadside to draw the attention to the entrance of the Dragon Mountain Natural site (Zhulong Shan), a typical example of “Shanshui” traditional Chinese landscape composed by mountains, forest, clouds and water.
STEELMESH JUXTAPOSITIONS CREATE BLURRY AND SUBTLE CHINESE CHARACTERS OF DRAGON MOUNTAIN NATIONAL SCENIC SPOT.AT NIGHT, THOUSANDS OF STARS APPEAR ON THE POLES, PERFORATED RANDOMLY, AND GIVE SHAPE TO A MOUNTAIN VIBRANT WITH LIGHTAT NIGHT, THOUSANDS OF STARS APPEAR ON THE POLES, PERFORATED RANDOMLY, AND GIVE SHAPE TO A MOUNTAIN VIBRANT WITH LIGHTAT NIGHT, THOUSANDS OF STARS APPEAR ON THE POLES, PERFORATED RANDOMLY, AND GIVE SHAPE TO A MOUNTAIN VIBRANT WITH LIGHTAT NIGHT, THOUSANDS OF STARS APPEAR ON THE POLES, PERFORATED RANDOMLY, AND GIVE SHAPE TO A MOUNTAIN VIBRANT WITH LIGHTAT NIGHT, THOUSANDS OF STARS APPEAR ON THE POLES, PERFORATED RANDOMLY, AND GIVE SHAPE TO A MOUNTAIN VIBRANT WITH LIGHTAT NIGHT, THOUSANDS OF STARS APPEAR ON THE POLES, PERFORATED RANDOMLY, AND GIVE SHAPE TO A MOUNTAIN VIBRANT WITH LIGHT
There are three different sequences of approach and just as many levels of perception in this installation. While approaching the site from the street, a vibrant mountain composed by 200 inox poles subtly appears in the distance. With speed, the poles become a single surface and the effects created by the different materials composing the poles reveal the shape of a new mountain.
WHILE APPROACHING THE SITE FROM THE STREET, A VIBRANT MOUNTAIN COMPOSED BY 200 INOX POLES SUBTLY APPEARS IN THE DISTANCEWHILE THE VISITOR MOVES CLOSER, HE DISCOVERS A MINIATURE LANDSCAPE IN WHICH HE CAN MOVE AND STROLLNATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL LANDSCAPE INTERLACENATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL LANDSCAPE INTERLACETHE POLES BECOME A FOREST; A BLACK MARBLE RIVER INVITES THE VISITOR TO WALK TOWARDS THE REAL MOUNTAIN STANDING OUT AGAINST THE HORIZONTHE PERFORATIONS ON THE MIRROR PANELS CREATE AN INTERPLAY OF LIGHT AND SHADOW MARKING THE PASSING OF TIME
While the visitor moves closer, he discovers a miniature landscape in which he can move and stroll.
THE POLES BECOME A FOREST; A BLACK MARBLE RIVER INVITES THE VISITOR TO WALK TOWARDS THE REAL MOUNTAIN STANDING OUT AGAINST THE HORIZON
THE PERFORATIONS ON THE MIRROR PANELS CREATE AN INTERPLAY OF LIGHT AND SHADOW MARKING THE PASSING OF TIMENATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL LANDSCAPE INTERLACEWHILE THE VISITOR MOVES CLOSER, HE DISCOVERS A MINIATURE LANDSCAPE IN WHICH HE CAN MOVE AND STROLLTHE PERFORATIONS ON THE MIRROR PANELS CREATE AN INTERPLAY OF LIGHT AND SHADOW MARKING THE PASSING OF TIMETHE POLES BECOME A FOREST; A BLACK MARBLE RIVER INVITES THE VISITOR TO WALK TOWARDS THE REAL MOUNTAIN STANDING OUT AGAINST THE HORIZON
The poles become a forest; a black marble river invites the visitor to walk towards the real mountain standing out against the horizon. The canopies placed above the visitor’s head to represent clouds, turn out to be mirrors. In this peaceful setting, urban life goes on reflecting itself on the mirror canopies and on the surface of the poles. The perforations on the mirror panels create an interplay of light and shadow marking the passing of time.
WITH SPEED, THE POLES BECOME A SINGLE SURFACE AND THE EFFECTS CREATED BY THE DIFFERENT MATERIALS COMPOSING THE POLES REVEAL THE SHAPE OF A NEW MOUNTAINWHILE APPROACHING THE SITE FROM THE STREET, A VIBRANT MOUNTAIN COMPOSED BY 200 INOX POLES SUBTLY APPEARS IN THE DISTANCESTEELMESH JUXTAPOSITIONS CREATE BLURRY AND SUBTLE CHINESE CHARACTERS OF DRAGON MOUNTAIN NATIONAL SCENIC SPOT.THE POLES BECOME A FOREST; A BLACK MARBLE RIVER INVITES THE VISITOR TO WALK TOWARDS THE REAL MOUNTAIN STANDING OUT AGAINST THE HORIZONTHE PERFORATIONS ON THE MIRROR PANELS CREATE AN INTERPLAY OF LIGHT AND SHADOW MARKING THE PASSING OF TIMECLOUD FLOATING ABOVE THE MOUNTAINSNATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL LANDSCAPE INTERLACE
At night, thousands of stars appear on the poles, perforated randomly, and give shape to a mountain vibrant with light.
THE PERFORATIONS ON THE MIRROR PANELS CREATE AN INTERPLAY OF LIGHT AND SHADOW MARKING THE PASSING OF TIMETHE PERFORATIONS ON THE MIRROR PANELS CREATE AN INTERPLAY OF LIGHT AND SHADOW MARKING THE PASSING OF TIMENATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL LANDSCAPE INTERLACECLOUD FLOATING ABOVE THE MOUNTAINS
Mini Bio
Aurelien Chen is a French architect and building engineer, with 15 years of experience in China. He is also partner at ZHIJIAN WORKSHOP, a multi-disciplinary design studio based in China, France, Germany.
Sketches, drawings & model
HAND SKETCHESHAND SKETCHES
CLOUDS ARE MADE OF MODULAR TRIANGLE ELEMENTSPLANEACH COLUMN HAS ITW OWN HEIGHTCHANGES OF MATERIALS ON THE POLES RECREATE THE SHAPE OF MOUNTAINS
