Winner: The Pom Pom
By Haoran Deng (Hallen) and Bicen Song (Isla)
Wan Chai, Hong Kong
The beaver, a national symbol of Canada, embodies productivity, resourcefulness, and persistence. It teaches teamwork and the importance of individual contributions, symbolizing creativity, cooperation, and harmony. The Pom Pom, resembling a friendly beaver on ice, serves as a temporary public winter shelter, warming visitors and inspiring them with the beaver’s spirit.
Inspired by the beaver's ball shape when wrapping for heat, the Pom Pom’s form is spherical with a hollow center. The shelter encourages reflection on nature and sustainability. Using natural materials, it highlights living in harmony with the environment, promoting a deeper connection with nature and fostering a sense of community and shared responsibility.
Imagine a snowy landscape where the Pom Pom stands, its fluffy tree branches glistening with frost. The construction process involves community members, and craftspeople working together, much like a colony of beavers.
As the sun sets and stars twinkle, the Pom Pom pavilion becomes a magical haven. Visitors are encouraged to engage in communal activities like storytelling, music performances, and workshops, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.
This design provides a functional shelter and reminds us of our responsibility to protect and preserve the natural world. Using materials that blend seamlessly with the environment and promoting sustainability, the Pom Pom pavilion embodies the beaver's spirit and invites visitors to reconnect with nature and one another.
The pavilion starts with wood beams on a wood base. The external finish, made of locally sourced tree branches, repels snow, keeping the interior dry and cozy. These materials are chosen to ensure the structure is both durable and harmonious with its natural surroundings.
Inside, the pavilion is insulated with natural materials like straw, creating a warm atmosphere.
