Po Toi Retreat
Pavilion
TOMBOLO 2020
Despite its isolated geographical setting, in 2018, our team chose Po Toi Island as the starting point to carry out some experimental practices which might lead to an architectural project. We spent our holidays living in the village and did some volunteer work for the elderly. In return, the villagers cooked meals for us and shared the stories of the island. After a year of negotiation, we were asked to devise a design scheme for an empty concrete platform by the seaside. The site has a spectacular view so we proposed a pavilion where people can enjoy an afternoon tea, mahjong or napping. Due to the difficulty in transportation, the design was constrained by the quantity of in-situ material and the capacity of vehicles. Therefore, the pavilion was constructed with a framework of metal pipes left on the island and a ceiling made of bamboo.
After finalising the design with 1:1 prototypes, we began to plan the logistics, in-situ collaboration and the building procedures. Since the island does not have a ferry service every day, we need to sleep overnight in our camps and keep our eyes on the volunteers’ safety. The pavilion was eventually erected by the end of summer, providing a cooler shelter for the villagers and visitors. The open structure suggested no programs, but its pellucidity encouraged proximity to the great ocean and its ethics.
