Laura Chan
Pavilion Model
Class of: 2028
Major: Interior Design BFA
Medium: Model made with used materials
Faculty: Aaron Krach
Prompt: The assignment is to design and build a pavilion located in a particular place that is meant for a specific kind of looking as an experience.
The location for the pavilion is the small triangular space in front of the Flatiron Building, as if it’s an island in the middle of Manhattan’s ceaseless energy—a space of stillness within movement. Designed to offer serenity without complete detachment, this pavilion redefines how an individual can engage with the urban environment. Standing on this triangular island, the eye is immediately drawn to the elegance of the Flatiron Building. There are no walls or enclosed ceiling; the pavilion embraces this openness, creating uninterrupted sightlines. Here, stillness and motion exist in parallel—visitors lying on the hammocks placed in the pavilion with their peaceful retreat, while passersby rush by. This contrast is intentional— it shows that the pavilion is not an escape from the city, but a space from which to observe the city’s rhythm. Also offers an opportunity to pause and appreciate what people rarely stop to notice, even something as monumental as the Flatiron Building itself.