Studio Weave has added a touch of literary history to the 2012 Olympic Games with this intricate embroidered timber pavilion called Paleys upon Pilers. Installed at the historic Aldgate, which also marks the beginning of High Street 2012 (the route from the City of London to the games site at Stratford), the temporary structure's design was inspired by two of Geoffrey Chaucer's fantasy temples 'The House of Fame’ and ‘The Parliament of Fowls.’

The celebrated literary genius lived in a room above Aldgate between 1374 and 1386, where he dreamed about and illustrated extraordinary buildings of Gaudi-esque scale and form made with bizarre materials. Commissioned by the Worshipful Company of Chartered Architects as a contribution to the upcoming Olympic Games, the young design firm perched the latticed pavilion on stilts decorated with images from Chaucer’s manuscripts.

The striking temporary pavilion, which – to us – is reminiscent of grand Thai temples, officially opened yesterday to coincide with the start of the Olympics. It will remain there throughout the summer, so be sure to take a peak if you have the chance.

+ Studio Weave

images courtesy of Studio Weave