WHERE THE RIVER RUNS

Honouring the landscape of Wuhan in China, where the Yangtze and Han rivers intersect, the pavilion is a reflection of the historical and cultural significance of water in this region. Providing a means for trade that promoted economic growth, the rivers also sustained a plethora of flora and fauna for the people of Wuhan, providing a means for life to flourish on a number of levels.

The surging ebb and flow of the pathway mimics a river, winding through the landscape as it maps out a journey for visitors through a series of naturally occurring formations. Upon entering the landscape, visitors are provided with local seeds that can be planted along the ‘riverbed’, thus engaging them directly and personally with the landscape.

Through their immersion in the landscape, visitors are viscerally connected to nature and play a part in sculpting the surroundings. At the center of the pavilion is a central plaza that offers an opportunity for rest and contemplation.

Where The River Runs is currently being constructed onsite for the 2015 Garden Expo held in China. The design contains a rainwater system that allows water to be stored and harvested for the pavilion when needed. Due to run until April 2016, the expo is expected to receive more than 12 million visitors.

PENDA:

‘Water is Life. Water is the well of our origin. It is the main designer of our environment. Water is the connecting circulation system of our world and a precious resource, on which life on earth survives. It makes up two thirds of our body, just like the map of the world. Our vital fluids are mainly saline, the same as the ocean. Water is our physical connection with the planet.’