The notion that things can possess dual qualities of both permanence and ephemerality intrigued Spatial Praxes when approached by Cement Design to create a temporary pavilion for showcasing their products. Aware that the pavilion would be temporary, Spatial Praxes posed the following question: how to create a sense of permanence given the transience of the event?

Inspired by the form of traditional villages, Spatial Praxes sought to juxtapose the fleeting nature of the pavilion with a timeless element of a community: a public sphere where its inhabitants converge and where memories are forged. The design embraces the makeshift clustering of buildings observed in traditional villages, which tend to culminate coherently around a large open public space. The pavilion comprises three cement houses with inward-sloping roofs, featuring entrances and galleries for displaying products. Pinwheeled along the perimeter, these houses create a sense of intimacy and enclosure while providing multiple entrances welcoming visitors from various directions.

At the heart of the pavilion lies a large opening that alleviates the density along the perimeter and serves as a public gathering space for product demonstrations and exchanges. A textured ring-wall links the houses into a unified whole while giving a tangible form to the public sphere. Lifted 600mm above the ground, the wall obstructs direct sight into the interior, while evoking a sense of curiosity by revealing only the footsteps within.

In an event that anticipates tens of thousands of visitors, each with but a few minutes or seconds to explore each stand, the Cement Design pavilion offers a temporary public square where guests are invited to linger and form lasting connections, even if only for a brief moment.