Architects around the world are embracing nature-inspired designs to create extraordinary pavilions that captivate visitors with their organic forms and whimsical appearance. From structures resembling giant mushrooms to those mimicking seashells and coral reefs, these eight remarkable pavilions demonstrate how creative architects are drawing inspiration from the natural world to design buildings that bring joy and wonder to their communities.
These innovative structures serve diverse functions, ranging from libraries and exhibition spaces to shelters and viewpoints, proving that organic forms and natural materials can be successfully integrated into functional architecture. Each pavilion showcases unique construction techniques and materials while maintaining a strong connection to nature through their design philosophy.
One standout example is the Chinese Paper Umbrella pavilion in Italy, created by architecture studio MAD for this year's Venice Architecture Biennale. While inspired by traditional Chinese paper umbrellas, the translucent structure's draping form resembles a giant flower. The pavilion is covered with tung oil-treated Xuan paper and serves as a sheltered outdoor space. At night, internal lighting transforms it into what MAD describes as "a pavilion of shadow and glow," creating a magical atmosphere for visitors.
In China's Longyou County, HCCH Studio designed the Twisted Brick Shell Library, a circular structure that resembles a giant seashell. The pavilion consists of two brick hemispheres connected by a twisting wall section, designed to "cuddle visitors in the wide-open field like a spiritual shelter." The brickwork deliberately mimics the appearance of traditional buildings in the nearby town, creating a harmonious blend of contemporary design and local architectural heritage.
The United Kingdom showcased creativity with The Armadillo, a wooden pavilion designed by Unknown Works for the London Festival of Architecture. Constructed from 42 prefabricated cross-laminated timber panels, this eucalyptus-timber structure features stepped timber arches that give it the appearance of the armored mammal for which it was named. The pavilion demonstrates how sustainable timber construction can create striking architectural forms.
Fashion house Louis Vuitton commissioned The Nomad Pavilion in Italy, designed by New York-based Marc Fornes. This extraordinary structure was assembled from more than 16,000 individually shaped and patterned anodized aluminum sheets. When joined together, these unique pieces create a bulbous structure inspired by coral reefs, showcasing the possibilities of complex fabrication techniques in contemporary architecture.
London's Kew Gardens features the Carbon Pavilion, a giant mushroom-shaped structure designed by Mizzi Studio. Created as part of the botanical garden's new Carbon Garden, this ornate wooden pavilion aims to emulate a living organism and highlight carbon's role in supporting life on Earth. The structure features a translucent roof made from flax crowns, demonstrating how sustainable materials can be used in innovative ways.
In Chongqing, China, DoDesign created the aptly named Drifting Stones pavilion, which sits on a rocky site and conceals a panoramic viewing area beneath its stepped roof. The structure is made from steel-framed, cement-coated slabs that were hand-chiseled by local artisans to replicate the textures of the surrounding valley. This approach shows how pavilions can blend seamlessly with their natural environments.
Norway's Hardangerfjord is home to the Salmon Eye, an ovoid pavilion designed by Danish exhibition design studio Kvorning Design. While the structure appears to be clad in gleaming fish scales, it's actually made from stainless steel plates. Created for local salmon farming company Eide Fjordbruk, the pavilion hosts exhibitions and provides information about sustainable aquaculture possibilities.
Finally, in Gloucestershire, UK, British practices Invisible Studio and Pearce collaborated on a woodworking shelter featuring a green oak framework supporting an aluminum shingle roof. Six tree trunks support what Invisible Studio founder Piers Taylor described as "a roof structure that had some of the delicacy of a tree," creating an organic-looking workspace that harmonizes with its natural surroundings.
These eight pavilions represent a growing trend in architecture where designers are moving away from rigid geometric forms to embrace the fluid, organic shapes found in nature. By incorporating natural materials, sustainable construction methods, and biomorphic designs, these structures demonstrate that functional architecture can also be playful, inspiring, and deeply connected to the environment.
