The project began with a decision by the local community to invest in constructing a community hub instead of financing their annual festival – durable rather than temporary investment. The village is next to a large coal power plant that has impacted local health and economy. The building is a series of catenary arches out of concrete curving in different directions. An open-air structure, it is intended to be functionally vague to host varied activities. The use of fly ash is common as a partial substitute for cement. In this location, though, it takes on additional meaning through the conversion of industrial waste into structure.

The jury enjoyed the playfulness of this surreal pavilion. By multiplying the possibilities for cultural activities in the village, it fosters a greater sense of communal engagement. Also commendable is the activism that has spurred the project. Community leaders and the project’s architect have worked together to gain support for the project from locals and the public sector. This process has embedded the new building within the community before construction begins. Through this participation, it is clear that the imaginative construction will be met with equally imaginative uses.