Infinite Grove 2026: Mirrored Pavilion Turns Single Tree Into Forest
Chang Hao Studio unveils Infinite Grove in Shanghai, a traveling pavilion using curved mirrored-steel walls to multiply a single tree into an endless forest.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Infinite Grove is a traveling pop-up pavilion created by Chang Hao Studio in Shanghai.
- It uses two curved mirrored-steel walls to reflect a single tree into an endless forest.
- The pavilion debuted at the 2026 Shanghai International Flower Festival from April 18 to May 10, 2026.
- Its prefabricated structure moves on a single truck, allowing the central tree to change seasonally.
Chang Hao Studio has introduced Infinite Grove, a traveling architectural pavilion in Shanghai that transforms a solitary tree into an expansive, boundless woodland through the clever use of optical reflections from dual curved mirrored-steel walls.
Selected by Xiaohongshu (RED) Design Week, the pavilion was showcased during the 2026 Shanghai International Flower Festival held from April 18th to May 10th, 2026. The festival expanded beyond conventional exhibition grounds into shopping districts, parks, and streets across two main venues and ten sub-venues throughout Shanghai, drawing approximately 29.5 million visits. The structure was installed at the Huangpu main venue in Xintiandi among more than forty themed gardens.
This project exemplifies modern urban architecture's shift toward modular, low-impact installations. By utilizing a compact physical footprint combined with clever optical illusions, Infinite Grove maximizes spatial perception within a dense urban environment, offering a blueprint for temporary public art that harmonizes nature and industrial design.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The design adapts two traditional classical Chinese garden principles: framed views (kuangjing) and borrowed scenery (jiejing). Employed as spatial strategies rather than literal historical replicas, a circular entrance restricts initial views, withholding the grand revelation until visitors step inside the mirrored interior.
Constructed from a minimal palette of curved mirrored steel, frosted panels that diffuse daylight, and a single living tree, the pavilion requires no permanent foundations. Prefabricated entirely in a factory, the entire assembly fits onto a single truck for effortless relocation. As the installation travels across Shanghai, its central focal point shifts with the seasons—transitioning from a blooming spring azalea to a twisting, silver-foliaged olive tree in the summer.
Source: designboom
Found something wrong in this article? Report an issue with this article
Comments
Leave a Comment