A new entrance into Miami’s Simpson Park was part of phase one of a public–private partnership to revitalize the native forest preserve and return it to the community. Since it was a protected ecological site, we collaborated with landscape designer Enzo Enea on the pavilion design for a symbiotic relationship between nature and architecture. The new structure forms part of the existing canopy—tree branches and orchids wind through and over the structure, with minimal impact on the soil and root systems.

Fifteen endangered and nine threatened species thrive in the park, including Spicewood, Strangler Fig, and Jamaica Dogwood. The timber gateway celebrates the presence of the protected forest in the community, raising its profile and forming part of an upgraded pathway network through the park interior. In a city where the built environment now predominates, it was important that the pavilion was designed to be subservient to nature.