Xmas Tree Nursery – Christmas Installation, PMQ, Hong Kong

Confronted with the proliferation of oversized installations during Hong Kong's highly commercialized Christmas season, the AaaM team faced the core challenge of delivering genuine environmental education through a temporary installation. Sited within a revitalized historic building complex, the project had to transform 16,000 recycled beverage cartons—collected over several years from local primary schools—into a visually compelling and educational spatial intervention within a limited budget and exhibition period. The diversity of these cartons (brands, sizes, materials) presented a constraint that required ingenious design resolution.

The design centered on the concept of a “Christmas Tree Nursery,” redefining the Christmas tree—a symbol of consumerism—as a vehicle for environmental education. Inspired by the cartons’ inherent folding structures and triangular geometries, the project engaged over 1,600 primary students in the hands-on creation process, turning abstract environmental concepts into tangible action. This approach perfectly aligned with AaaM’s mission of “empowering communities through architecture,” transforming space into a living textbook for sustainability and fostering deep environmental connections through collaborative creation.

The team developed six distinct folding patterns to adapt to cartons of varying sizes, transforming them into shimmering silver leaf modules. Thirty-six Christmas trees were arranged in height gradients representing eight species, forming an immersive “nursery forest” experience. Pixelated triangular patterns extended across the flooring and glass backdrop, creating visual continuity with the tree installations. A curated pathway guided visitors through exhibition zones, interactive workshops, and rest areas, allowing environmental messaging to unfold organically through movement and engagement.

The project attracted tens of thousands of visitors, with all materials re-entering the recycling loop post-exhibition. Its greatest success lay in demonstrating how temporary installations can serve as powerful catalysts for environmental education—engaging students and the public in reshaping environmental values through participatory design and aesthetic creation. This practice offers a replicable model for advocacy within commercial spaces, highlighting architecture’s role as a medium for social change and driving cities toward more sustainable modes of celebration.