MOONBRIDGE

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

This 8m diameter sculpture features a circular bridge with a bespoke stainless-steel balustrade that follows the same fluid design language as the other atrium elements. The bridge forms flow effortlessly around a black reflective pool in the center, complete with radiating LED rings, which activate with colourful sequences of light and sound as visitors touch 4 key points on the handrail. VIP guests can walk along the bridge to place a special light orb onto a sceptre like device, causing a grand sequence of bursting animation, lighting, music, and projection to play throughout the atrium. Overall, the sculpture symbolises the creation story of a boy and girl who drop a pebble into a pool, opening a portal into Fantastical Hainan.

DESIGN PROCESS

Through a series of sketch and 3d model explorations, the bridge form evolved in pursuit of finding a shape, rhythm and proportion that would convey speed, acceleration, fluidity, and weightlessness. The design should be complimentary to the shape language of the other atrium elements while paying tribute to the wooden post and rail system of a traditional bridge. In the modelling stage, a bridging technique was employed to create webbed branches between the top and bottom rail. These posts would lean at a seemingly impossible angle to provide enough structural support to the railing.

In combination with the sweeping forms encasing the bridge ramp, the overall gesture of the sculpture is like a vortex of encircling white branches, caught in the centripetal force of the circular pool.

The finished sculpture is made of self-supporting cut and welded stainless-steel plates, with a steel frame supporting the walkable ramp. A custom air-cushion system (developed by Dafeng) seamlessly integrated within the base allows the entire sculpture to be moved away to accommodate other events.