HCCH Studio weaves osmanthus motifs into translucent dome
Osmanthus Moon is a temporary public art installation by HCCH Studio, created to mark the traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival. The project references the osmanthus flower, an emblematic plant associated with the season, and establishes a dialogue with the action paintings of a folk Zao Hua (stove flower) artist, a practice recognized as an element of intangible cultural heritage.
Located on the semicircular lawn of Century Park in Shanghai, the pavilion takes the form of a translucent dome reminiscent of a full moon. Its structural framework integrates stylized osmanthus motifs into a bronze lattice resembling intertwined vines. A lightweight, elastic fabric is stretched across the framework, forming a continuous, illuminated surface. The resulting form explores the intersection of traditional patterning and contemporary construction methods.
all images by Guowei Liu, PSA
Osmanthus Moon explores geometry, illumination, and heritage
The design references the ornamental language of the Vienna Secession while drawing on the geometric clarity of Buckminster Fuller’s domes. On the ground, the Zao Hua artist’s painted osmanthus patterns correspond to the bronze framework above, establishing a spatial and visual relationship between movement and structure, craftsmanship and fabrication.
Visitors enter through two irregular openings that lead to an enclosed interior space. During the day, filtered daylight produces a diffused glow across the fabric surface, creating a soft, evenly lit environment. At night, internal illumination transforms the pavilion into a semi-transparent volume defined by shifting shadows and gradients of light. Commissioned to Shanghai-based practice HCCH Studio by the Power Station of Art in Shanghai, Osmanthus Moon was presented as a twelve-day installation, serving as both a seasonal observance and an exploration of the relationship between natural motifs, material technology, and cultural continuity.
Osmanthus Moon by HCCH Studio celebrates the Mid-Autumn Festival through architecture and light
the installation reinterprets the osmanthus flower, a seasonal symbol of autumn in Chinese culture
the pavilion’s translucent form evokes the appearance of a glowing full moon
a bronze lattice weaves stylized osmanthus motifs into an intricate structural framework
interlaced patterns resemble vines, merging organic imagery with architectural geometry
lightweight elastic fabric stretches over the bronze frame to form a luminous surface
by day, filtered sunlight produces a soft, evenly diffused interior glow
painted osmanthus motifs on the ground echo the bronze framework above
located in Century Park, Shanghai, the dome rests on a semicircular lawn like a descending moon
by night, internal lighting transforms the dome into a semi-transparent sphere of light
shadows and gradients animate the fabric surface as the light conditions shift
the project reflects HCCH Studio’s exploration of cultural continuity through material and form
Osmanthus Moon connects contemporary design with the heritage of Zao Hua, or stove flower painting
project info:
name: Osmanthus Moon
architect: HCCH Studio | @hcchstudio
design team: Hao Chen, Chenchen Hu, Feng Qi
client: Power Station of Art Shanghai
light consultant: ADA Lighting
contractor: Art ZHOU
dimensions: D7.2m; H3.6m
location: Century Park, Shanghai, China
photographer: Guowei Liu, PSA
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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom
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