Created to provide reflection and escape from the outside world, classical Chinese gardens feature winding pathways, lush greenery and carefully placed architectural features like pavilions, viewing towers and meandering roofed promenades called lang, as well as pergola structures used to demarcate paths and delineate different zones. When tasked as part of Bogong Island Ecology Park’s revamp with replacing a 1.2-kilometre-long steel trellis corridor that had deteriorated and posed safety concerns, Wutopia Lab drew inspiration from pergola structures to create a futuristic version of the traditional lang.

Typically constructed from bamboo or wood, the designers opted for steel for their version of the pergola structures, combining a tubular framework with mesh inlays to create leaf-shaped, semi-transparent panels. Beginning as standalone elements arching above the walkway, the panels gradually start to overlap and later fuse into a continuous canopy creating an ever-changing experience in contrast to the monotony of the previous design. Whilst the serpentine silhouette of canopied walkway recalls a “dragon dance”, a form of traditional Chinese dance involving a team of dancers using poles to rhythmically move an elongated, flexible dragon prop, the organic design language bridges the man-made and the natural.

Soaring over nine metres in height, the roofless pavilion majestically marks the entrance to the walkway. Comprised of arched panels of varying height, symmetrically layered not unlike the petals of a rose, the structure combines a temple-like aura with an organic sensibility. Painted again in white, the gossamer-like pavilion and canopied walkway currently stand out against the verdant surroundings, functioning as visual beacons for the recently reopened park, but as time passes, they will be enveloped by a rich tapestry of climbing plants and flowers, transforming into a captivating spectacle that is sure to draw even more visitors to the park.