Type | Installation Design

Architect | Huang Mingjian / MOMENTUM Architects

Completion Year | 2022

Invited by Róng Design Library, we created a prototype of the Umbrella Pavilion around the theme of traditional paper umbrellas. We employed traditional materials and craftsmanship—such as raw bamboo and bast paper—and integrated digital design technologies to bring this cross-disciplinary work to life, which merges product and architectural design. Its core aim is to redefine the traditional paper umbrella and its craftsmanship, exploring the creative continuation of heritage and the revitalization of its vitality amid new technologies.

The design was further refined from the prototype in both design and construction techniques. We improved structural joints, adopted eco-friendly outdoor bamboo materials, and adjusted the structural form to create a dynamically interactive space with the surrounding environment.

Rooted in digital generative design and green sustainability, the Umbrella Pavilion transforms the traditional paper umbrella into abstract surfaces. Mathematical logic governs the relationship between the bamboo structure and spatial form. We used computer models to standardize the bamboo frame configuration and leveraged mechanical simulations to achieve the optimal balance between structure and form. Laser cutting technology seamlessly connects the design and manufacturing processes.

By integrating traditional bamboo materials, paper umbrella craftsmanship, and digital technologies, the pavilion endows the paper umbrella with an entirely new material form and spatial experience. Its flowing double-curved surfaces break spatial boundaries, collect rainwater for irrigating greenery, and realize symbiosis between the structure and vegetation. This design embodies the vision of inheriting cultural heritage from ancient to modern times and fostering future development.