PAIR Pavilion by Pezo von Ellrichshausen: A Poetic Architectural Installation in Seoul

The PAIR Pavilion, designed by the renowned Chilean architectural duo Pezo von Ellrichshausen, is a striking installation located in Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Completed in 2023, this compact yet profound structure spans just 30 square meters, yet it powerfully conveys complex ideas about human relationships, space, and presence.

Concept and Design Philosophy

At the heart of the PAIR Pavilion lies an exploration of the individual mirrored in another individual, symbolizing the fundamental unit of a couple — be it two people, friends, family, or abstract relationships between self and other. This conceptual framework draws from artistic traditions of the double portrait, referencing works from Jan van Eyck to David Hockney. The pavilion itself acts as a modern-day double portrait in architectural form, a sculptural expression of intimacy and duality.

The structure’s geometry is rooted in the equilateral triangle, rendered almost as a thin, scaleless pediment, free from conventional building thickness. This creates a theatrical space — a minimal yet powerful frame that blurs boundaries between inside and outside, self and other, here and elsewhere. The pavilion’s sole entrance projects beyond the interior volume, transforming its facade into a symbolic threshold.

Inside, the design intentionally fosters an intimate encounter between two occupants positioned at opposite ends. This spatial dialogue evokes questions: Are the pair a real couple—a mother and son, friends, strangers—or a metaphorical one, embodying dreams, memories, or shadows?

Architectural Features and Materiality

Visually, the PAIR Pavilion stands out through its elegant simplicity and monumental presence. Its mirrored facade clad in a meticulously arranged pattern resembling stacked stones responds dynamically to the local climate and light conditions. This reflective surface creates a visual dialogue with its surroundings, capturing seasonal changes such as sunlight glinting off snow or the pavilion’s silhouette shifting in summer.

A unique design element is the asymmetric peephole, a narrow vertical slit opening towards the sky from an interior corner. This subtle architectural gesture introduces a sense of mystery and tension, marking a spatial division that transcends everyday experience and transforms the pavilion into a contemplative, almost supernatural realm.

Installation and Future Plans

Originally conceived as a temporary installation for the Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism, the PAIR Pavilion is planned for complete recycling and relocation to a permanent site in a botanical garden in Gyeonggi Province. This sustainable approach emphasizes the architects’ commitment to adaptive reuse and environmental responsibility, ensuring the pavilion’s lasting impact both physically and conceptually.

All Photographs are works of Pezo von Ellrichshausen