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Studio
genarchitects

Lead architects
Xue Zhe, Fan Beilei, Kong Rui

Project team
Liu Yang, Li Lanruo, Zang Min, Tao Shuting, Wang Shiyu, Chen Xi, Liu Jinghuan, Sun Haonan, Liu Weinan, Yang Tianyu

Year
2021

Location
Nanjing, Jiangsu, China

Content edited by Gaia Pilia
© urbanNext

Floral Pavilion: Architecture as Sensory Practice

genarchitects

Situated in a valley, with rolling hills stretching to the north and south, the Floral Pavilion is conceived as a spatial atmosphere built upon perception rather than overt form-making.

A modern architectural courtyard integrated into a lush green hillside, featuring a sleek building with a curved roof and surrounding pathways, emphasizing harmony with nature.

Treating architecture as a sensible entity, the design prioritizes feeling over explicit rational expression. Inside the hall, a restrained palette of black tones establishes a calm and immersive environment, reducing visual noise and allowing the space to settle into a quiet, almost contemplative state.

A person walking through a modern corridor with large glass windows overlooking a green landscape, featuring sleek design and minimalist style. Modern interior of Yitingting Cottage with large glass windows, lush greenery outside, and people enjoying the space.

The background is intentionally subdued, recalling the logic of a theatre. Through this deliberate reduction, attention is focused and clarified: the central arrangement of flowers becomes the primary presence, illuminated as if on a stage, while the surrounding scenery recedes into shadow. This contrast heightens perception, where light and darkness work together to construct a singular experiential image.

A lush indoor garden with colorful flowers and greenery under a modern, transparent roof, featuring a person enjoying the serene environment. Contemporary pavilion featuring large glass windows, outdoor seating, and lush garden views, designed for relaxation and social gatherings.

Rather than deriving from formal typologies, the project follows an initial mental image—an intuitive vision of tranquility and focus. The resulting space is less about composition and more about evoking a state, where controlled light, muted materiality, and spatial hierarchy collectively produce a quiet intensity centered on the floral display.

Studio
genarchitects

Lead architects
Xue Zhe, Fan Beilei, Kong Rui

Project team
Liu Yang, Li Lanruo, Zang Min, Tao Shuting, Wang Shiyu, Chen Xi, Liu Jinghuan, Sun Haonan, Liu Weinan, Yang Tianyu

Year
2021

Location
Nanjing, Jiangsu, China

urbanNext (July 4, 2026) Floral Pavilion: Architecture as Sensory Practice. Retrieved from https://urbannext.net/floral-pavilion-architecture-as-sensory-practice/.
Floral Pavilion: Architecture as Sensory Practice.” urbanNext – July 4, 2026, https://urbannext.net/floral-pavilion-architecture-as-sensory-practice/
urbanNext April 30, 2026 Floral Pavilion: Architecture as Sensory Practice., viewed July 4, 2026,<https://urbannext.net/floral-pavilion-architecture-as-sensory-practice/>
urbanNext – Floral Pavilion: Architecture as Sensory Practice. [Internet]. [Accessed July 4, 2026]. Available from: https://urbannext.net/floral-pavilion-architecture-as-sensory-practice/
Floral Pavilion: Architecture as Sensory Practice.” urbanNext – Accessed July 4, 2026. https://urbannext.net/floral-pavilion-architecture-as-sensory-practice/
Floral Pavilion: Architecture as Sensory Practice.” urbanNext [Online]. Available: https://urbannext.net/floral-pavilion-architecture-as-sensory-practice/. [Accessed: July 4, 2026]

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