Interview by Rui Pastorin
In the midst of the noise and fast paced life of Macau, the creators behind the “Bamboo Pagoda” installation on the shore of Sai Van* Lake are hoping that the space can act as a temporary refuge to slow down, find peace, and reflect, all the while spotlighting sustainable practices.
A week-long installation organised by Ephemera Public Space Cooperative, which has utilising and bringing back meaning to spaces that might be overlooked, vacant or underused as among its aims, the 13-metre site specific installation can be found suspended over the water in front of the Military Club’s tennis courts on Avenida da República (民國大馬路).
The installation was created entirely out of bamboo, celebrating the traditional craft of bamboo scaffolding, while aiming to achieve the concept that started it all: creating a place where people can pause and enjoy the city, while also aiming for a space to have a peace of mind.
Each part of the pagoda also highlights points of sustainability, with Rita Machado**, who is a design consultant for the project together with João Ó, telling the Post during an interview prior to the ceremony that the bamboos used for the project were actually from previous construction sites, giving it a second life.
The floor within the pagoda also utilises tea waste, while solar panels are used to power up the installation’s spotlights. “It’s very environmentally friendly”, Machado said, pointing out that sustainable architecture is important for the association.
Macahado said that through the structure, which took around a week to build, the organisers hope that people can reconnect with the waterfront, noting Macau’s “very strong connection” with water given its history. Its overall shape, an octagon, also proves significant, with Machado pointing out that it is related to balance, nature, and even Daoism.
From the significance of the shape to the local techniques and the location, Machado noted that the organisers also hope to share “very local knowledge” with others while also bringing the community together.
Throughout its run, the organisers expect people to use the area to rest and enjoy a peace of mind. And despite only being put up for a week, Machado pointed out: “We want to give this place to people to keep it in their memory. It’s like a legacy. It’s ephemeral, it’s not going to last long, but at the same time, it will always last in your memory”.
Moreover, during his speech at the opening ceremony, Ó also reinforced the sustainability aspect of the piece, noting that careful environmental choices were made in designing the installation, with the project being “an opportunity to promote sustainable architecture in Macau”. And with the project’s entirety, Ó added that it all reflects the group’s aim of “reducing the project’s environmental impact while exploring how local materials, resources, and knowledge can contribute to a more sustainable architecture.”
Members of the public may visit the installation from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. through October 11.
*Sai Van is Cantonese for “West Bay”
**Both Machado and Ó are the principal architects and founders of Impromptu Projects, a multidisciplinary architecture and design studio, the design consultancy of the installation. Seng Kei Pang Chong provided the bamboo scaffolding.
Design consultants to the Bamboo Pagoda installation João Ó (left) and Rita Machado address the opening of the installation yesterday in front of the Military Club’s tennis courts on Avenida da República (民國大馬路). – Photos taken yesterday by Rui Pastorin
