The Tree Aquarium: A Shopping Mall Oasis

Michael Tsang, Anthony Ho and David Yu's Award-Winning Design

The Tree Aquarium stands out for its innovative use of natural elements. The interior space is designed to mimic watery contours, representing pedestrian mobility. The main atrium features a water-curtained skylight that diffuses sunlight, creating an aqua-scape and nurturing the symbolic 'Tree of Light'. This tree, immersed in the underwater terrain, gives visitors a sense of energized focus and sway, akin to the feeling of being in an aqua-flowing activity. The changing flairs of light as one moves through the water-ground bring this enchanted submarine forest to life, creating a fairy-tale-like natural scenery.

The tree trunk and branches are constructed from wood-faced steel frames, embedded with computer-controlled colored LED lights, reminiscent of the shimmering light shows found in deep sea environments. The ceiling contours, made of GRG and wood, continue to swirl, twisting the tree parametrically and shearing its branches towards the sky limit. The water-curtained skylight serves as an interface between reality and dream, providing a contrasting urban forest to this underwater oasis.

Spanning four levels and approximately 53,000 square meters, The Tree Aquarium offers a unique shopping experience. Upon entering, visitors are insulated from the outside world and transported into a natural oasis. The sea-sky interface swirls between reality and dream, reflecting the blurred urban forest and creating a new form of rest. Under the canopy of the tree, shoppers can rest, breathe, and become part of the aquarium, interacting with the scenery and exploring the treasury.

The design process for The Tree Aquarium commenced in mid-2014 in Hong Kong and was completed in early 2015. The construction phase took place in Shenzhen from April 2015 to December 2015. The project was a collaborative effort, with Michael Tsang, Anthony Ho, and David Yu leading the design team.

The Tree Aquarium is not only a testament to innovative design but also to the power of nature-inspired architecture. Its unique features and the experience it offers have earned it the Silver A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2018, a prestigious accolade awarded to designs that demonstrate outstanding expertise, creativity, and innovation.