The Pavilion aimed to address the requirements of a 300-key seaside resort situated in a unique coastal state in Goa, India – a former Portuguese colony that until today, remains a hybrid cultural outpost in the country. The site was an unused 6,000 sf parking lot at the rear of the hotel, facing a beach wetland. The project was conceived of during the COVID-19 pandemic by the hotel, and approved by the local village government to encourage sustainable tourism in the future.

To function as both convention center and as wedding chapel while complying with local requirements, a lightweight assembled structure was proposed. In this predominantly Portuguese-Indian Catholic state, the design sought to reflect the diverse cultural layers of this community. A framed structure was allowed by stakeholders and deemed permanent, so long as it did not utilize a concrete or masonry shell. The architectural concept therefore proposed a pre-fabricated moment-framed steel structure, assembled on site. In turn this structure supported a secondary lightweight skeleton, with lightweight metal roofing, modular cladding panels and high-performance glazing systems.

To the local community and to the hotel, The Pavilion functions as a “secular chapel”.

Location

Goa, India

Year Completed

2021