Rising Moon: A Sustainable Pavilion Illuminating Hong Kong's Mid-Autumn Festival

Daydreamers Design's Award-Winning Pavilion Reimagines Traditional Lanterns Using Recycled Materials

The Rising Moon Pavilion was inspired by the Chinese tradition of gathering under the full moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival, a symbol of reunion. The designers aimed to bring the distant moon closer to the surface of Victoria Park, creating a synthetic moon that offered visitors a dynamic visual impact. The design also aimed to promote Hong Kong as a sustainable city, using recycled and recyclable materials in its construction.

The pavilion was constructed from approximately 7,000 recycled plastic bottles, steel frames, cable wires, and energy-saving LED lights. Each bottle was connected to a LED device, controlled by a computer to generate different lighting effects on the moon's surface. The Rising Moon sat atop a reflective pool, creating a complete sphere visually when viewed from the outside. The interior of the pavilion was filled with suspended lanterns made from recycled plastic bottles, creating a sea of light that offered a strong visual impact to visitors.

The Rising Moon Pavilion was three stories high, measuring approximately 10 meters in height and 20 meters in diameter. The hemispheric structure consisted of 148 triangular steel components, each crossed with cable wires to form a cable net. The lantern sat in a pool, and with lighting effects, it joined its reflection, imitating the moon phases, forming a “full moon” at one point.

The construction of the Rising Moon Pavilion was a challenge due to the short timeframe. The design was standardized with triangular modules through complex geodesic calculations, and prefabrication of these modules and the insertion of LED components into water bottles were vital parts of the construction process. This approach minimized on-site production time and maintained a high standard of quality.

The Rising Moon Pavilion was a resounding success, receiving the Gold Award at the Lantern Wonderland Design Competition. It also won the Platinum A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award in 2014, recognizing its world-class, exceptional, and highly innovative design. The Rising Moon Pavilion is a testament to Daydreamers Design's commitment to creating designs that not only captivate but also contribute to societal wellbeing.