Shadow Garden Paviliion

The Shadow Garden Pavilion consists of a simple timber structure with pressed galvanised steel shutters that are connected to planter boxes by ropes and pulleys. These boxes are filled with plants and herbs commonly used in local cuisine and are moved to different positions through the opening and closing of the shutters. This system transforms the space with an ever-changing play of shadows and offers the plants variable shading from direct sunlight.

This temporary installation was designed by Eleena Jamil Architect and sits in the courtyard of the Shalini Ganendra Fine Art (SGFA) Gallery in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. It was built by students from the School of Architecture, Building & Design (SABD) at Taylor’s University Malaysia. It was part of the SGFA-led annual art programme called the PavilionNOW series, which was in its second year.

This project explored the usage of local materials and traditional building methods. For example, the main structure used locally sourced hardwood—merbau and balau—in the form of rectangular timber sections. These woods were joined together using an old woodworking method called tanggam, which refers to a collection of traditional interlocking joints that connect pieces of timber without fasteners and screws. It can be found in old vernacular timber structures in Malaysia.

The timber sections were cut and shaped by the students in the architecture department’s timber workshop of Taylor’s University. These timbers were then transported to the gallery and assembled on-site, followed by the installation of the pulley system, shutters and planter boxes.

The pavilion is open to the public for a period of six months from 15 September 2016 onwards. After this period, the gallery hopes to find a more permanent location for it.