Shanghai-based Atelier Guo has successfully transformed an abandoned greenhouse in Huizhou, China, into an innovative architectural marvel called the Moon Pavilion. This compact, two-story structure now rises elegantly over the waters of Huizhou, representing a remarkable example of sustainable architecture and creative reuse. The project was conceived through a collaboration with artists Meilin Gao and Gang Xu, bringing together architectural expertise and artistic vision.
The design concept draws profound inspiration from an ancient Chinese verse that describes a poet who appears "smiling and intoxicated among flowers." The architects translated this poetic literary image into a tangible spatial experience, creating a building that embodies the essence of the verse. The lunar element serves as the central theme throughout both the conceptual framework and the physical composition of the pavilion, influencing every aspect of the design process.
One of the pavilion's most striking features is a rotatable art installation positioned on the facade, which serves as an artificial moon. This installation creates a reflective, shifting presence that acts as a counterpart to the actual celestial moon above. When viewed from a distance, both the artificial and natural moons create a shimmering effect over the pond that encircles the entire structure. As visitors walk along the water's edge, the pavilion's carefully designed curved silhouette evokes the slow, majestic ascent of the moon over the horizon.
The architectural team made a deliberate decision to reinterpret rather than simply renovate the existing greenhouse structure. The original building featured a lightweight pin-jointed frame constructed from standard agricultural building materials, and these proportions and structural techniques directly informed the design of the new pavilion. Although the original greenhouse was completely dismantled, its architectural language of temporary assembly was carefully preserved and reimagined as a more permanent yet equally permeable structure.
Sustainability and material reuse played crucial roles throughout the construction process. Artist Gang Xu extended this philosophy by repurposing steel members from the demolished greenhouse, transforming them into legs for custom stools, while the seat surfaces were crafted from compressed waste materials. The upper floor incorporates carbon-curing boards, reflecting the team's ongoing commitment to sustainability and extending the afterlife of construction materials. The design of the second-floor concrete slab draws inspiration from the traditional seasonal practice of lifting boats during dry seasons, creating what the architects describe as "raised terrain."
The structural system features a dense, irregular array of steel columns that cleverly conceal all mechanical systems while supporting the concrete slab above. The geometry of this slab intentionally recalls the hull of a vessel, reinforcing the nautical theme. The roof truss rises significantly higher than the original greenhouse structure, serving the dual purpose of enhancing lateral stability while amplifying the visual impression of a boat that appears poised to drift across the water.
Although none of the original greenhouse's physical structure was retained, the architects ensured that its essential spirit of cultivation and growth continues in the new design. This continuity is achieved through a carefully planned planted gradient that effectively dissolves the architectural perimeter. The planting scheme features shade-tolerant species positioned beneath the concrete slab, while native vegetation spreads naturally beyond the building's boundaries, creating a seamless transition between built and natural environments.
The pavilion's distinctive dark polycarbonate cladding creates a striking visual effect, giving the structure the appearance of wearing a pair of sunglasses when viewed from afar. This design choice serves multiple purposes: it references the building's agricultural context, amplifies the moon installation's luminosity through contrast, and reveals the steel structural hierarchy beneath the translucent skin. Working in collaboration with sustainability consultants from Atelier Li Yin, the design team integrated sophisticated passive ventilation systems, strategic shading elements, and mechanical misting systems to maintain comfortable conditions through natural airflow, demonstrating how innovative architecture can successfully combine aesthetic vision with environmental responsibility.
