I’m designing a temporary cultural pavilion in the city of Long Beach in celebration of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Long Beach as a city has gone through phases where it was devastated and demolished, whether by natural disasters or economic downturns. Each time, the city rebuilt itself from the ruins, carrying forward a story of resilience.

That spirit mirrors the story of the Olympic Games, which began in ancient times and have evolved through moments of crisis, growth, and change. Each athlete who competes, and each spectator who gathers, contributes to a larger story about collective perseverance.

The pavilion embodies this shared spirit: movement, resilience, and collective momentum; layering smaller actions, steps, and experiences to create something larger.

Rather than designing a dominant architectural gesture, the pavilion comprises of modular, flexible pieces that adapt and evolve as part of the journey.

Just as athletes train day by day, and cities rebuild block by block. The idea is that no single moment defines the experience; rather, it’s the sequence, the accumulation, and the movement through space that creates meaning.