Moon Mission — Realising Urban Resilience through Art and Design Installations
COVID-19 has significantly impacted the lives of many people around the world. Now, two to three years after the pandemic, the question is: what’s next for our city? Should urban development continue along the same path it took before the pandemic? I believe our city should be free to re-imagine possible futures and experiment with more sustainable and creative ways of life. At the very least, local communities, creative and cultural organisations should be encouraged and allowed to create spaces that inspire the creativity of the city’s residents.
To this end, PAMSC’s World Architecture Day (WAD) celebrations have become a ‘testing ground’ for promoting creativity and re-imagining our future cities. In the past, we have taken the opportunity to collaborate closely with PAMSC to organise events such as Cardboard City, the ‘Walking City’, and other installations aimed at fostering creativity and sustainability within local communities, particularly among younger generations.
In conjunction with this year’s WAD 2022 celebration, the temporary installation of the Moon Pavilion has been set up at Palmarium Park, MBKS (Majlis Bandaraya Kuching Selatan). This place-making project also aims to promote cultural events through the celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival (Mooncake Festival), engage the community, and celebrate local traditions. We foresaw it serving as a backdrop for lectures, mini concerts, and evening movie screenings in the park. Alongside PAMSC, this event was a collaborative effort with MBKS, Sarawak Creative Arts and Culture Association (SCACA), and Free & Easy Chinese Calligraphy Association (FECCA).
The concept of the Moon Pavilion was derives from the poems of Song Dynasty:
“月上柳梢头，
人约黄昏后”
“When the moon hung above the willows, young people went out on dates after dusk”
This verse aims to illustrate the artistic conception of Moon Pavilion during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The design process for the Moon Pavilion was also influenced by the Serpentine Gallery’s design from OMA. The centerpiece of this design is a striking ovoid-shaped inflatable canopy that floats above the Serpentine’s lawn. Made from translucent material, the structure is illuminated from within at night. The canopy can be raised or lowered to cover the amphitheatre below depending on the weather.
We envisioned the Moon Pavilion as a simple white spherical object floating in the park. During the daytime, it is translucent, with shadows cast by the internal frames, while at night, it is illuminated. It can be seen both from the main road and within the park, deliberately capturing public interest. Some children have even described it as a Star Wars spaceship ready to take off, a Kongming lantern, large eggs, or a lantern to hide inside – it can be interpreted in many ways. Most importantly, it serves to connect architecture, art installations, and creativity to the local community.
In terms of building materials, the structure is made from bamboo, just like traditional lanterns. The bamboo was harvested and cured in August by the skilled Bidayuh community from Puncak Borneo. The process took a month, from harvesting to installation in the park.
A one-day event for university students was held at the MBKS Auditorium and Palmerium Park during the Moon Pavilion’s construction: PAMSC WAD 2022: The Moon Pavilion Installation & Students Workshop. This event included a bamboo crafting workshop, bamboo design lectures led by Dr. Bambang Karsono and Cr. Wadel Boyod, a site visit, and the installation of the Moon Pavilion. The event was attended by 110 students from five universities in Sarawak (UNIMAS, Swinburne University, UITM Kuching, Kolej Laila Taib, and UTS Sibu).
Kuching boasts a rich and diverse culture and community. Our heritage is comprised of the tangible, intangible, and natural elements. As we consider the future, we must think about how to ensure the city’s development allows for organic interventions in creative, cultural, and community spaces. We should also re-imagine what our city will need in the near future. With that in mind, it is hoped that the Moon Pavilion will continue its mission of inspiration.
PROJECT GALLERY
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Designer : INTODESIGN Lab
Year : 2022
Location : Kuching | Sarawak
Supporters : Kuching South City Council (MBKS) | Sarawak Creative Art and Culture Association (SCACA) | Free & Easy Chinese Calligraphy Association (FECCA)
Sponsors : Nippon Paint | iMetal -
C&S Engineer (Foundation) : N.D. Konsultant
Foundation Contractor : Precious Buildility Construction
Design Team : Tay Tze Yong | Lam Choi Suan | Sim Siok Pheng
Bamboo Installer: Bidayuh community led by Cr. Wadel Boyod
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