Christmas Naturally – Rattan Tree Sculpture & Hat Pavilion – Installation, Swire Properties , Hong Kong

Starstreet Precinct in Wan Chai stands as a unique urban regeneration district where new developments meet conserved heritage. Once a broken edge between Wan Chai and Admiralty, the area now thrives as a lively urban fabric curated by Swire Properties, blending lush greenery, cultural vibrancy, and intimate community life. Against this backdrop, AaaM Architects was invited to curate and design a Christmas installation that would embrace the site’s evolving identity. The challenge lay in creating a festive experience that resonated with the community, respected the precinct’s cultural character, and aligned with sustainable values. The project had to balance budget, durability, and public accessibility, while weaving art into everyday urban life.

The installation draws inspiration from Starstreet’s natural and cultural elements, transforming them into festive forms that speak to collective imagination. AaaM envisioned a design that not only celebrated Christmas but also embodied a lifestyle of well-being, sustainability, and togetherness. Using 1500m of natural rattan, the design team wove ribbons into abstract sculptures of tree, galaxy, and floating hat. Rattan—a renewable and eco-friendly material—was chosen deliberately to echo respect for the environment and to connect people with nature within the concrete jungle. The main users—residents, office workers, and visitors—seek both moments of delight and meaningful communal experiences, which the installation delivered through its approachable, human-centered design.

Two main sculptural nodes anchored the installation: the Spiral Tree at Queen’s Road East and Wing Fung Street, and the Floating Hat Pavilion at Star Street. The Spiral Tree redefined a busy junction into a festive plaza, rising boldly to 6m with rattan ribbons wrapped around a double-curved spiral steel frame illuminated with golden LED light. The Floating Hat Pavilion marked the gateway to Three Pacific Place, creating an immersive environment of light and shadow with 500m of woven rattan suspended by a steel tree-like column. Together, these installations transformed transit points into moments of encounter, encouraging visitors to pause, connect, and share.

The installation radiated warmth across Starstreet Precinct, with rattan ribbons meandering through lanes and courtyards to spread festive cheer. Beyond seasonal decoration, the project demonstrated how thoughtful design can strengthen community spirit and highlight sustainability as a shared value. It provided an alternative model for placemaking—where even temporary architecture fosters belonging and empowerment. The most significant success lies not only in the visual landmark created, but in how it invited people to engage with their neighborhood differently, sparking joy, dialogue, and pride. For AaaM, this project reaffirmed the power of architecture to empower communities, even through ephemeral forms.