Cotillion Park Pavilion
Photography by Mell Lawrence.
Office Project Team: Mell Lawrence & Elizabeth Baird
Structural Design: Architectural Engineers Collaborative- Chuck Naeve, Rik Haden
Contractor: RoeschCo Construction
Landscape: Kimley Horn and Associates, Inc.
Commissioned by the Dallas Parks Department to replace a 1960 era pavilion, this new shade structure bridges the gap between two groups of trees at a natural gathering place in the park. The composition of steel components abstract and mimic the idea of the hierarchy of the surrounding trees to produce similar dappled shade. The sun's movement across the sky animates the structure, catching direct light, casting shadows and patterns, and creating dynamic figure ground shapes against the sky for the picnickers below. Long concrete benches not only define the outdoor room under the translucent roof but stretch out beyond to extend the usable area into and under the natural shade of the surrounding shade trees.
Suspended high above your head at the center of the pavilion hangs a bright red/orange elliptical mobile/weather vane. The mobile gently spins around to acknowledge any changing wind direction and provides a dynamic heart at this well used suburban neighborhood park.