Ring of Celestial Bliss | J. J. Pan & Partners

For this year’s Taiwan Lantern Festival in Hsinchu County, the Delta Electronics Foundation through architects J.J. Pan & Partners bring to the people the “Ring of Celestial Bliss”. Situated in the low carbon zone, the 70m² circle-shaped lantern is designed with recyclable steel structure covered with bamboo on the outside. On the inner side a projection screen of high-luminance DLP projectors tell stories of Sun and Moon and the four seasons.

Courtesy of J.J. Pan & Partners

The Bamboo used on the outer skin aside being a green building material is culturally significant to the people of Taiwan. The design inspiration for the bamboo material does not come as a surprise as the Hsinchu was called the city of bamboo walls. 900 pieces of bamboo of 6m-length and 5cm diameter form this outer skin. After the festival, the bamboo will be donated to build environmental education classrooms in Taitung.From inside, the projector screen is made from recycled PET plastic. Measuring 6m high and 60cm wide it will be recycled to make plastic bags after the festival. The floor is also covered with 210000 bamboo tubes. They are combined to make water-permeable that will allow the return of the space for growing grass. They will decompose after the festival, going back to the earth from whence they came. The lantern with all these green features seeks to reduce the carbon footprint to the barest minimum, the systems thinking in all the components used for this structure is worth emulating. Below is the project description from the architect.

Courtesy of J.J. Pan & Partners

Ring of Celestial Bliss

There is a Chinese phrase, “Blessings as high as the sky” that is vividly and thoroughly conveyed in all aspects of this design. In this spirit, the main lantern for 2013 Taiwan Lantern Festival is aptly themed “Ring of Celestial Bliss.” From the outside, the lantern appears as a glowing object hovering in the night, a feat achieved through the special and innovative design of the steel structure. Inside the lantern, a ring of ever-moving images produced by the latest projection technology and LED lighting serves as a metaphor for nature’s endless cycle of life and inspire hope for the future.The choice of form and materials used for the lantern is inspired by the historical and cultural characteristics of Hsinchu, whose ancient name was the “City of Bamboo Walls.” While reusable steel is the primary structural component, the outer cladding consists of bamboo trunks. The inner projection screen is made of recycled materials, and bamboo tubes are used as a permeable flooring material.

Courtesy of J.J. Pan & Partners

After the lantern festival, the steel will be reused for the covered court structure of an Elementary School in Taitung. The bamboo will be collected after the end of the festival and donated to “Earth Passengers” workshop to build environmental education classrooms in Taitung. The bamboo tubes will decompose into part of nature becoming nutrients for the ecosystems. The screen will be made into 800 in 30x30cm environmentally-friendly bags to avoid waste. The locally sourced construction materials have the additional advantage of being environment-friendly with a reduced carbon emissions footprint.“Ring of Celestial Bliss,” inspired by local characteristics and executed with Taiwanese technology and design, conveys a profound respect for nature while providing an auspicious vision for the future.

Courtesy of J.J. Pan & Partners

Project Info.
Architects :  ArchitectsJ.J. Pan & Partners
Location : Hsinchu City, Taiwan 
Project Team : Joshua Jih Pan, Chungwei Su, Steven B.J. Chen, Ian Y.C. Tseng
Year : 2013
Project Type : Culture/ Exhibition/ Leisure