Three large voids are cut into the towers as the sites of the History Pavilion, designed by Steven Holl Architects, the Light Pavilion by Lebbeus Woods, and the Local Art Pavilion.
The History Pavilion marks the site of the original Sichuan Provincial Museum in 1941. Set into a void in north elevation it overlooks the plaza of the three valleys and pools.The architectural language of the History Pavilion is planar and in shadows, in contrast to the architecture of the Light Pavilion, which is linear and glowing. The History Pavilion is constructed of weathering steel, with an interior of natural perforated locally harvested bamboo.
The Light Pavilion is designed as an experimental space, giving visitors the opportunity to experience a type of space they haven’t experienced before. The structural columns articulating the Pavilion’s interior spaces support stairs and viewing platforms. They are illuminated from within, creating a luminous space. This quality is amplified by the mirrored surfaces enclosing the Pavilion, which visually extend its spaces infinitely. From within the buildings, and from the large public plaza, the glowing structure radiates changing color symbolizing different holidays and times of day, month and year.