Moonrise, marking the Wheland Foundry Trailhead in Chattanooga, Tennessee, emerges ethereally from the park’s landscape like a luminous shell among the trees. Conceptualized by Marc Fornes / THEVERYMANY, this permanent pavilion captivates with its white aluminum dome. Its surface, perforated with circular openings, invites skyward glimpses while connecting with the surrounding foliage and clouds.
From afar, Moonrise appears as a delicate artifact within nature. Stepping beneath its canopy, you’ll discover a serene, shaded space, where daylight dances through the punctured skin to trace round patches on the concrete floor. Inspired by the moon’s rise over the horizon—a time when familiar landscapes transform—the pavilion echoes a shared sense of pause and wonder. Visitors are drawn to explore its arched entrances, rest on strategically placed concrete seats, or gaze upward as the sun weaves patterns through its layered surfaces.
This work enriches the park with a distinct civic room, welcoming nature’s elements while maintaining a sense of intimacy. Marc Fornes and his Brooklyn-based studio, @theverymany, are celebrated for blending architecture with art and engineering. Their innovative use of thin materials establishes expansive forms. In Moonrise, they employ aluminum strips just three millimeters thick, joined by rivets to create an interlocking, self-supporting system.
Computation and creativity in public architecture
Moonrise embodies the studio’s ongoing exploration of structures made possible through advanced fabrication. Inspired by Buckminster Fuller’s ethos of efficiency, the project leverages computational design to achieve more with less. The pavilion’s intricate assembly—the visible seams, fasteners, and faceted panels—transforms the structural logic into an architectural pattern resembling a lunar surface. Its generous openings lighten the structure and create a soft visual cadence, framing treetops or casting luminous pools on the ground.
The pavilion’s geometry-driven strength, visible across its white exterior, ensures a compelling public space. Here, complexity and visual interest shape the visitor experience. As you move through Moonrise, you might notice how engineering dissolves seamlessly into aesthetic interaction. Children can chase the moving shadows, while adults find tranquility sitting along its edges, enjoying the gentle breeze.
Viewed from above, Moonrise presents as a white, perforated circle with shadows sprawling onto the lawn, mimicking a secondary drawing. This innovative installation accentuates how cutting-edge design creates communal excitement, turning a technical feat into a welcoming and human experience.
As a testament to the synergy of computation and creativity, the Moonrise pavilion by Marc Fornes / THEVERYMANY casts new light on what’s possible in contemporary public spaces. It’s a permanent testament to imaginative architectural storytelling within Chattanooga’s green expanse.
In Sydney, check out how a new structure transforms a former quarry with a 42-metre steel lookout to enhance public interaction with nature.
Sources & Links
Source: designboom.com