Pavilion of the Moment
Timber pavilion shaped by light and place
Location
Istanbul, Türkiye
Status
Completed
May 2026
RIBA workstages
Concept to Completion
Designed for the Global Design Forum Istanbul, the Pavilion of the Moment is a temporary timber structure made from slender pine boards.
Developed around the Forum’s curatorial theme, Praise of Transience, the pavilion explores how architecture can be lightweight, adaptable and designed for disassembly. It forms part of a wider research agenda exploring circularity, local materials, craft and regenerative approaches to architectural practice.
The pavilion is located alongside Hagia Irene, Istanbul’s oldest church, and sits within the grounds of the Topkapı Palace which served as the administrative centre for the Ottoman Empire for almost 400 years. Drawing on the repetition and rhythm of traditional patterns, its geometry responds to the proportions of the adjacent church, abstracting the relationship between cube and sphere to create a centred, contemplative space.
The slender timber structure creates a deliberate contrast with the monumental architecture around it. Rather than seeking permanence, the pavilion offers a temporary place to pause, with its repeated timber elements creating a changing experience of light, shadow and movement.
As part of the Forum’s Placemaking programme of public installations, the pavilion was assembled in May 2026.