Shanghai studio Xisui Design drew on natural shapes for the minimalist Thin-Shell Metal Woven Pavilion, which was designed as a sunken resting space on a pond in China.

The ovoid metal pavilion was made to be lightweight, wind-resistant and provide shade from the sun, while also letting some light in.

"We drew inspiration from the natural world, particularly the weaving methods of birds' nests and the load-bearing arched structure of eggshells," Xisui Design project manager Yang Peng told Dezeen.

"These influences guided us to achieve a design that is pure and lightweight, ensuring a precise prefabricated, modular, and demountable construction solution that is relocatable."

Sunken into a pond in Hefei City, Anhui Province, China, the pavilion was made from 469 bespoke pieces of metal CNC-cut in different sizes and precisely and bolted together.

Each metal plate is 2.5 millimetres thick and the structure is comprised of two layers of plates.

"CNC precision machining in the factory allows for uniform and efficient control over errors and process standards, avoiding the impacts of weather, tool shortages, and on-site management challenges," Peng said.

The eight-metre wide pavilion was assembled without the use of welding, instead using flexible bolt joints to make it easier to disassemble and replace the modules.

According to the designers, the eggshell design was not just chosen for its aesthetic value but also for its practical aspects.

"As an effective structural form, the shell efficiently distributes loads, utilizing principles similar to ancient vaulted buildings and natural bird eggshells," Xisui Design said.

"This design ensures both stability and efficiency, minimizing material usage while maintaining the pavilion's aesthetic integrity and elegance."

Visitors reach the Thin-Shell Metal Woven Pavilion by walking along a sunken walkway below the water's surface.

The metal shell of the pavilion was painted white, while the interior walls are a matt golden brown colour.

Xisui Design added three large openings to the egg-shaped dome, letting light and air into the pavilion.

Strategically placed smaller openings were also embedded into the facade to help ventilate it and create light patterns that change throughout the day.

The pavilion's acoustic design creates an echoing effect that visitors said promotes a "sense of peace".

"Visitors have remarked that standing in the center and speaking produces an echo effect that amplifies voices, enhancing the centripetal experience created by the dome and the surrounding water," Peng said.

"This feature has been described as promoting a sense of inner contemplation and peace."

Other examples of egg-shaped architecture on Dezeen include a garden temple next to an Indian house and an egg-shaped tomb in Sakai, Japan.

The photography is by Yihao Hu, Jia Liu and Fancy Images.

Project credits: 

Design and build: Xisui Design
Chief designer: Yihao Hu
Project manager: Yang Peng
Structural consultant: Spiring Achitectural Design
Suppliers: Shanghai ZhouJie Metal Decoration Engineering Co, Shanghai Zhan Jing Construction Engineering Co