shadow pavilion
This work was completed while working at PLY Architecture in 2009. Karl Daubmann and Craig Borrum were principals of PLY Architecture at the time.plyplus.com (Borum)
daub-lab.com (Daubmann)
Principal: Karl Daubman
Designers: Alex Timmer and Ngoc Thy, Ann Arbor, MI, 2009
The Shadow Pavilion investigates the paradox of a perforated structure—one in which subtracting material simultaneously lightens and weakens the form. Designed for the University of Michigan’s Matthaei Botanical Gardens, the pavilion becomes both structure and spatial experience, defined entirely by its field of openings.
Its surface is composed of more than one hundred laser‑cut aluminum cones of varying sizes. These elements not only test the structural limits of thin aluminum sheet but also channel light and sound into the interior, creating a space attuned to the surrounding landscape.
The arrangement of the cones draws on organizational logics such as phyllotaxis—the spiral packing pattern found in plants. This system constrains the pavilion’s geometry while enhancing its structural performance.
Fabricated through precise digital laser cutting, each cone retains the natural finish and clean edges of the aluminum. The result is a surface that expresses both the precision of its making and the atmospheric qualities of its perforations.
—PLY Architecture
The Shadow Pavilion has been deeply formative to my design process and ongoing research interests. Working on a project defined by subtraction, flow, and material behavior sharpened my attention to the ways matter and energy actively shape architectural experience. The pavilion’s reliance on digital fabrication, iterative prototyping, and systemic organization became foundational methods in my later work, informing how I approach both teaching and research. Its exploration of pattern, performance, and environmental responsiveness continues to influence my investigations into open systems, fabrication‑driven design, and the dynamic relationships between material assemblies and their surrounding conditions.