PLANS FOR KOWLOON GARDEN PAVILION

Proposed by architects Pouya Goshayeshi and Joanna Lam, the Kowloon Nursey pavilion offers a vertical garden within the dense urban fabric of Hong Kong. The proposal was submitted to the ‘young designers and architects’ competition 2017 initiated by the ‘West Kowloon Cultural District’ that aims at providing a dynamic and creative hub at the heart of the Chinese city.

With this proposal for the young architects and designers competition 2017, Goshayeshi and Lam want to shift the public opinion regarding high-density cities- which are often perceived as related to a lack of green spaces. In some cultures, it is still a commonly held belief that a good living environment exists only outside of the urban realm, specifically in the country side.

In the past two decades, however, vertical gardens have taken over many building facades in cities. These living green ecosystems have not only proven to have positive effects on the environment but have been able to reduce the urban heat island effect and offer psychological wellbeing to those living in cities.

The proposed design for the pavilion is made up of columns where a series of linear and straight bamboo pipes connect two rings. These linear structures are rotated along the ring that takes up the shape of trunks. A felt system is connected to the vertical pipes – where vegetation such as Boston Ivy, multiple flower species, vegetables, and moss are grown.

There is a place on each trunk to include the description on how to grow and maintain each plant variety. At night, these linear giants equipped with incandescent lights around and between the rings are illuminated. “The composition of these plants along with natural bamboo structure create a colourful inviting feeling for the community,” notes the duo.

With these considerations in mind, this proposal hopes to encourage the community of Hong Kong to take the initiative of creating urban green spaces and open up a discussion about the benefits of vertical gardens in everyday life.