Chinese Paper Umbrella

Built for the outdoor garden of the national pavilion at the 2025 international architecture exhibition, this installation is inspired by the traditional oil paper umbrella. Its main material is xuan paper, coated many times with tung oil to make it both translucent and water-resistant.

The structure gives the ancient craft a new form and scale, turning it into an outdoor room that offers shade from the sun and shelter from the sudden rain and wind of the lagoon climate. Near the end of the exhibition route, stepping beneath the umbrella feels like entering a small open-air theatre, a place to pause, rest or simply breathe.