Lily Canopies

Project

Haikou Duty Free Shopping City

Client

China Duty Free Group

Creative

Wētā Workshop

Build

Dafeng Industry

Location

Haikou, Hainan, China

Opened

October, 2022

Role on the project

Lead Design & Art Direction

Suspended within the Atrium, these sculptural canopies gracefully adorn four key balcony areas, sheltering the space in a forest-like, otherworldly atmosphere. With metallic iridescent finishes, the large stylized leaf forms glitter and shimmer, casting a magical spectrum of colors and reflections across floor beneath them.

The overlapping of the various sized leaf forms creates a mesmerizing Moire effect, adding to the organic flow of the stems. As the sun filters through the Atrium roof, the canopies emulate the dappled light of the forest, further enhanced by external lighting effects.

By night, the integrated up-lighting of each leaf is illuminated, changing color and brightness in harmony with the Forest at the Edge of the Sky show. These canopies not only enhance the flora elements of the themed environment, but also transport visitors to a world beyond the mundane.

DESIGN PROCESS

The Lily Canopies are another marvel of design and engineering. These leaf-like sculptures were crafted using a blend of parametric modeling and digital sculpting, resulting in over 100 graceful leaves, each consisting of a molded polycarbonate inlay supported by hundreds of slender aluminium ribs.

The aluminium stems are highly organic and fluid, exuding a sense of natural plant growth. The canopy clusters span up to 11.5 meters wide, providing shelter for visitors on the balconies. The polycarbonate inlays are painted in a rich shade of pink in harmony with the other canopyl elements within the Atrium.

One design challenge was to create randomness in the composition of leaves with as few unique leaf shapes as possible, simplifying the approach to fabrication.

The integrated up-lighting of the Lily Canopies is programmable, allowing for a wide range of lighting schemes to be synced with the Forest at the Edge of the Sky show system. The result is a stunning display of light, form and color, inviting visitors to bask in the beauty of these elegant and ethereal sculptures.