Paviljong Rosendal by In Praise of Shadows: Sustainable Wooden Pavilion in Stockholm

The Paviljong Rosendal in Stockholm is a contemporary architectural intervention by Swedish studio In Praise of Shadows. Originally developed as a companion pavilion for a wooden loggia showcased at the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2018, the project demonstrates adaptive reuse and site-sensitive design. Now located in Rosendal Garden, the pavilion serves as a space for public engagement, urban planning dialogue, and cultural events. Its relocation and adaptation for the Swedish climate exemplify how temporary architectural installations can evolve into permanent, functional structures within urban green spaces.

The design emphasizes sustainability, prefabrication, and modular construction. By incorporating a translucent polycarbonate skin, the pavilion protects against harsh Nordic winters while creating a glowing lantern effect in colder months. Painted in a traditional green hue common to the area, the pavilion blends with its surroundings while maintaining a distinct contemporary presence. Utilizing glued laminated timber (glulam) as the structural material, the project highlights rational production, efficient assembly, and expressive structural articulation. Paviljong Rosendal serves as a model for climate-responsive, reusable architecture that engages communities and enhances the cultural and educational potential of public spaces.

Design and Materiality

The pavilion is conceived as a prefabricated, reusable wooden loggia adapted to Swedish conditions. Its translucent polycarbonate skin provides wind protection, privacy, and thermal insulation, extending seasonal use while preserving visual lightness. The structure combines functionality with an aesthetic of simplicity and transparency.

Element	Material	Purpose
Structural frame	Glued laminated timber (glulam)	Strength, prefabrication, reusability
Exterior cladding	Translucent polycarbonate	Wind protection, privacy, lantern effect
Paint	Locally traditional green pigment	Integration with local architectural context
Bolted joints	Metal hardware	Expressive structure and easy assembly/disassembly

Spatial Experience

The pavilion creates an intimate and versatile environment for visitors. Its open plan and translucent envelope foster interaction while maintaining visual connection with the surrounding orchard and garden. Seating and flexible interior layouts accommodate meetings, educational activities, and events, while the polycarbonate skin diffuses light, producing a soft, glowing effect in winter. The pavilion encourages both social engagement and contemplation, reinforcing its role as a community-focused architectural element within a green urban context.

Architectural Analysis

The design logic emphasizes prefabrication, adaptability, and climate responsiveness. The use of glulam ensures structural efficiency, while standardised dimensions allow rational production and ease of assembly. The translucent polycarbonate skin adapts the original Venice pavilion design for Stockholm’s harsher climate, balancing protection and visual lightness. Site-specific considerations, including the orchard setting and traditional colour palette, anchor the pavilion within the local context, creating a dialogue between contemporary form and vernacular traditions. Critically, one might question whether the polycarbonate envelope compromises natural ventilation, though it enhances year-round usability.

Project Importance

For architects and designers, Paviljong Rosendal illustrates several key lessons. First, it demonstrates how temporary architectural installations can evolve into permanent, functional structures through adaptive design. Second, it emphasizes the importance of climate-responsive materials and prefabrication techniques in sustainable architecture. Third, it contributes to architectural discourse by showing that simplicity, transparency, and modularity can coexist with cultural integration and community engagement.

The pavilion also highlights innovation in participatory architecture, supporting public dialogue and educational activities. Its modular glulam structure provides a blueprint for future adaptive, reusable projects in urban parks and cultural landscapes.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

Paviljong Rosendal balances simplicity and expressiveness, with glulam structure and translucent polycarbonate creating a luminous, inviting space. However, the polycarbonate skin, while protective, may limit ventilation, posing questions about comfort versus durability. Despite this, the pavilion successfully demonstrates adaptable prefabricated architecture, combining material efficiency, climate responsiveness, and community-focused design, offering a replicable model for temporary installations that can gain permanent value.

Conclusion

The Paviljong Rosendal represents a thoughtful synthesis of prefabrication, climate adaptation, and community engagement. By transforming a Venice Biennale concept into a permanent pavilion for Stockholm, the project demonstrates the potential of temporary architecture to serve long-term urban, cultural, and educational purposes. Its glulam structure, translucent polycarbonate skin, and site-specific colour palette combine practicality, aesthetics, and local contextual integration, creating a space that supports a range of social and cultural activities.

For architects and designers, Paviljong Rosendal provides a blueprint for adaptive, reusable, and climate-responsive architecture. The pavilion’s success lies in its ability to merge prefabricated construction with environmental sensitivity, historical awareness, and community engagement. It sets a precedent for future installations that are lightweight, expressive, and environmentally conscious, demonstrating the continued relevance of wood-based architecture in sustainable urban and public space design.

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