Project overview

Developed for ARCH 201: Fictions/Narratives, the Firefly Pavilion is a lightweight, seasonal structure designed to observe fireflies without disturbing their habitat. Located at the Biodome site within the Jardin botanique de Montréal, the pavilion is carefully positioned at the top of a small hill, allowing visitors to look down onto a protected firefly sanctuary while maintaining a respectful distance.

Informed by firefly behaviour, the design minimizes impact through a permeable system of translucent mesh and a light wooden frame that filters light and blends into the landscape.

The pavilion is only present during the months when fireflies are active, assembled in late spring and summer, and removed as they return to hibernation in the colder seasons. This cyclical presence ensures minimal ecological disruption, allowing the site to fully return to its natural state while reinforcing architecture as a temporary, responsive intervention.