Architectural Cases

Ten Studio has redefined cycling infrastructure with its pioneering 60-Degree Ecological Pavilion along Shanghai's Chongming Dongtan Greenway. This project moves beyond conventional rest stops, presenting a self-sufficient ecological model that integrates human interaction with habitat preservation and renewable energy. It establishes a novel paradigm where architectural design actively participates in and enhances natural processes, setting a new standard for sustainable development.

Ecological Pavilion Reimagines Cycling Infrastructure in Shanghai

In Shanghai's ambitious vision for Chongming Island as a leading ecological hub, Ten Studio's 60-Degree Ecological Pavilion emerges as a transformative architectural marvel along the nationally acclaimed Dongtan Greenway cycling route. This project, conceived by Ten Studio architects Xudong Zhu, Xingyu He, and Yiqiu Wu, is more than just a pit stop for cyclists; it is a dynamic interface where human activity, ecological systems, and architectural innovation converge. Located on Chongming Island, the pavilion embodies a layered design philosophy rooted in a precise 60-degree triangular geometry. Below the roof, it offers cyclists a comprehensive suite of amenities: sheltered rest areas, secure bicycle parking, repair facilities, and essential public services, all within a flexible and inviting environment. Above this functional core, the structure blossoms into a living ecological surface, providing a welcoming micro-habitat for birds, insects, and climbing flora, seamlessly extending the island's natural landscape onto the architecture itself. This ingenious dual functionality allows the pavilion to operate simultaneously as a crucial piece of human-oriented infrastructure and a thriving ecological sanctuary. Its open and permeable spatial configuration maximizes natural ventilation and filtered light, ensuring a continuous visual connection with the surrounding environment, while a central semi-enclosed area offers a harmonious balance between openness and seclusion. The design prioritizes efficiency and environmental stewardship through its material and construction choices. A lightweight steel frame system, composed of painted I-beams and corrugated metal panels, facilitates rapid assembly and adaptability across diverse settings. Gabion walls serve a dual purpose, providing structural reinforcement and acting as ecological conduits that allow small animals to navigate the building while supporting climbing vegetation. Perforated metal mesh panels further enhance this permeability, blurring the boundaries between interior and exterior spaces. The pavilion is also equipped with advanced environmental systems for self-sustaining operation. Rooftop solar panels harness renewable energy, and a sophisticated rainwater collection, filtration, and storage system ensures water reuse for daily functions like restroom facilities. These integrated strategies significantly reduce reliance on external resources, solidifying the pavilion's identity as an autonomous ecological unit. A transparent LED media facade adds a cultural and economic dimension, displaying cycling-related content, local narratives, and digital art, while also offering advertising opportunities to secure long-term maintenance funding. When not active, the facade maintains its visual transparency, preserving the structure's inherent lightness and integration with its surroundings. The project has been strategically implemented across three distinct sites along the greenway, each subtly adapted to its immediate ecological context through variations in color and identity. A dark-toned pavilion resonates with a nearby bird reserve, a reddish structure harmonizes with local cultural elements, and a blue-green iteration reflects the aquatic ecology of the Chinese sturgeon habitat. These context-specific variations are unified by a consistent spatial prototype and construction methodology, illustrating how even minimal architectural interventions can transcend mere functionality to become active participants in environmental processes, fostering a more profound connection between human endeavors and the natural world.

This pioneering endeavor by Ten Studio offers a compelling vision for future urban infrastructure. It encourages us to rethink how public spaces can be designed not just for human convenience, but as integral components of a larger ecological network. The 60-Degree Ecological Pavilion stands as a testament to architecture's potential to foster a deeper, more symbiotic relationship between humanity and nature, promoting both ecological well-being and a richer human experience.

Architectural Engagement: Bridging Theory and Reality

The Vision for the 20th International Architecture Exhibition

Curators Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu have announced the theme for the 20th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, titled "Do Architecture: The Possibility of Coexistence in the Face of Real Reality." Set to take place from May 8th to November 21st, 2027, this theme reorients architecture as a direct, tangible response to the multifaceted challenges of an unstable global environment. It signifies a notable pivot from technologically-driven dialogues towards an approach deeply rooted in physical reality, emphasizing materials, community engagement, traditional skills, and daily experiences.

Addressing Global Instability Through Concrete Actions

The chosen theme aims to confront the instability generated by ecological crises, accelerated urbanization, the abstract nature of technology, and the gradual loss of cultural memory. By selecting the direct and action-oriented title "Do Architecture," the curators advocate for a return to fundamental architectural principles. This call to action urges the profession to transcend excessive conceptualization and re-establish a profound connection with the physical processes of construction, inhabitation, and the harmonious coexistence of elements.

Reconnecting Architecture with 'Real Reality'

In their introduction, Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu characterize the current global situation as one marked by uncertainty, volatility, and a detachment from genuine experience. They contend that modern architecture has frequently lost touch with the specific locales and communities it is intended to serve. The curators caution against architectural practices driven purely by commercial interests, speed, and superficial imagery, stating that "overly conceptual experiments are often detached from reality."

Acknowledging Architecture's Role in Crisis

Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu explicitly link architecture's current practices to the ongoing environmental and cultural crises. They assert that "architecture must recognize the depth of the crisis in which it finds itself," highlighting the detrimental effects of large-scale construction on both natural ecosystems and historical urban landscapes. The exhibition proposes an alternative: a more deliberate and hands-on architectural methodology that prioritizes continuity, memory, and restoration.

The Revival of Craftsmanship, Memory, and Local Knowledge

A core tenet of the Biennale's curatorial approach draws inspiration from Amateur Architecture Studio, founded by Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu. Their work consistently explores the use of repurposed materials, indigenous building techniques, and the integration of both ancient and modern construction methods. The curators stress the critical importance of not only salvaging materials but also revitalizing local cultural narratives and artisanal skills, advocating for architecture that champions the diversity and unique character of various places.

Interrogating Contemporary Challenges and Solutions

The exhibition will delve into a range of critical questions concerning architecture's relationship with climate change, artificial intelligence, rural and urban development, and collective participation. A central inquiry posed during the announcement was: "Can artificial intelligence coexist with the tactility of human architecture?" The Biennale intends to explore how passive and active environmental strategies, traditional construction expertise, and cutting-edge technologies can harmoniously coexist without eroding local identities and lived experiences.

Venice: A Living Canvas for Architectural Intervention

Beyond the traditional venues of the Giardini and the Arsenale, the 2027 Biennale will integrate architectural interventions directly into the city of Venice itself. Drawing parallels to the 1964 Venice Charter on heritage conservation, Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu view Venice as an active participant in the exhibition. The curatorial duo emphasized the need to acknowledge and engage with "the city in which the exhibition is taking place, Venice," citing Italo Calvino to prevent it from becoming "an invisible city."

Emphasizing Education and Collective Engagement

The curators also underscored the significant role of education and collaborative exchange within the Biennale. They envision workshops, dialogues, and direct participatory activities that extend beyond mere discussion to encompass physical involvement and actual construction. Their concluding sentiment, "We should not only discuss, we should do," encapsulates the spirit of practical engagement.

A Call to Re-evaluate Architecture's Core Principles

The 2027 edition marks the 20th International Architecture Exhibition since architecture became an independent department of the Biennale in 1980, under the direction of Paolo Portoghesi. With "Do Architecture," Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu position this anniversary event as a compelling invitation to re-conceptualize architecture as an ethical and material practice firmly anchored in coexistence, continuity, and tangible reality.