Nestled in the corner of a vertical valley on East Rock in New Haven, CT, this pavilion’s goal is to give the visitor a controlled walk around the cliff face and a unique view out onto the city. This view stems from the idea of showing only small portions of the landscape through vertical gaps that are formed by the slats along the building as they rotate at varying angles; this contrasts to the expansive views available from other points along East Rock.

The form becomes a continuation of the curved railing that leads up the Giant Steps next to the valley, creating a hallway that brings the visitor closer and further from the rock, emulating the cliff face’s natural ebb and flow. The hallway loops at the end, where there is a resting space, providing the visitor with different views on the way there and back because of the direction of the slats.

Along the hallway, there is space for different experiences of the rock—there are four moments when the profile of the roof and the floor break from each other. The first is the entrance, where the floor emerges from the rock when the visitor first walks onto the pavilion; then, they are slowly enclosed first by the roof emerging, and then the beginning of the slats, creating a pinch point where one is forced to get close to the rock. The second is a moment where the ground floor recedes and light comes from below; the third is where the roof recedes and brings light from above. Finally, at the fourth moment, both the roof and the floor recede to let both light and water run down the rock, highlighting the sensory experience of the cliff.

The rotation of the slats is in conversation with these moments, manipulating the visitor to pay attention to certain aspects of the cliff face.