SpaceStation Architects: Winner of World Design Awards 2024. During the 2024 Paris Olympics, Alibaba Group opened a temporary pavilion on the Champs-Elysées boulevard. This ephemeral wooden structure stood on the sidewalks halfway between Théâtre Marigny and Théâtre du Rond-Point for the duration of the Olympics. This is a location saturated with historical and cultural significance, having served as an exposition site during the Universal Expositions of 1855 and 1900. The gentle superelevation of the pavilion aims to blend in respectfully with the road design, its shape pays homage to the rectangularly pruned groves of the French gardening tradition. Rice paper used in the lattice windows of Chinese classical architecture provided us with inspiration for the overall layout: we chose polycarbonate sheets in order to mimic its aesthetic qualities.

The sheets also have superior light-weight, high-strength and thermal insulation properties. The main frame of the pavilion consists of shaped steel and all the rods are connected by bolts for easy transportation, assembly and dismantling. Secondary structures are of recyclable solid wood suited for structural dead load reduction. The pavilion is paved with standing seam polycarbonate sheets, with arches on the rooftop favoring the natural drainage. Corrugated sheets on the sides convey a sense of floating airiness. A semi-open space design avoids energy dissipation from air-conditioning: panels on the sides are designed to enhance natural ventilation, while also providing soothing area for the exhibition. Full-length gaps under the roof eaves provide an outlet for hot air gathered indoors. The pavilion aims to explore the theme of impermanence, its evocative shapes are meant to glide gently over the tree-lined Champs-Elysées boulevard blurs boundaries between indoors and outdoors, natural and artificial. All components are reusable and were returned to China for reassembly as part of a primary school charity program.

Project Details:-
Firm
SpaceStation Architects

Architect
Li Ling

Project Name
“Alibaba Wonder Avenue” Olympic Pavillion

Project Category
Pop-Ups Temporary Built

Team
Li Ling, Wang Fengchao, Cao Zhichao, Wei Yingnan

Project Location
Paris, France (50m from Champs-Élysées-Clemenceau Metro Station Exit, Av. des Champs-Élysées, 75008, Paris, France )

Country
China

Photography ©Credit
Jin Weiqi

SpaceStation Architects was co-founded in 2012 by Wang Zheng and Li Ling, both graduates from the architecture department of Tsinghua University with more of a decade of experience in the field. Since its inception, our firm has been committed to exploring the possibilities of small and medium-sized buildings and commercial space design.

Space Station Architects’ clients tend to be highly discerning design conoisseurs, including clothing, graphic, vehicle and product designers, photographers, advertising creative artists, florists, painters, calligraphers, dancers and other professionals. Our former clients include entepreneurial people ready to explore new business models: co-working, experiential photo studios, e-commerce patisseries, campus cafes, creative industry parks, and last but not least Weihai’s Shangu Institute of Design…

Space Station Architects is also actively engaged in the renovation of traditional living space and urban public facilities, and has completed a number of experimental residential space projects in Beijing’s architectural heritage areas of Shichahai and Dashilan, in addition to a host of public facilities renovation projects, such as the renovation of Beijing Qianmen public toilet, the exit design of Beijing Metro Line 16, and the renovation of the data center of Lhasa’s Jokhang Temple.

“Space Station” quite literally stands as word pun for what an “architecture studio” really deals with, this also resonates with the design approach we have been striving to bring about: using both reasoning and play as tools to navigate the course from conceptual to actualized space.

---