China Pavilion of 2023 Venice Biennale

China Pavilion is one of the 63 national pavilions at the 18th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia. The exhibition hall consists of more than 50 huge "scrolls" forming a Veranda. As the only light source in the venue, the luminous column not only provides booth lighting but also provides the brightness of the exhibition hall space. The light transmitted through the acrylic is soft and even, which can not only illuminate the architectural models on the booth, but is also full of the charm of traditional Chinese culture, emitting hazy light like a lantern.

The design difficulty lies in how to achieve a 360° uniform luminous cylinder without dark areas. After three mock-ups with different column structures, the structure with a central support and an acrylic sleeve was finally determined. The light sources are located in the center and illuminate the surroundings, showing a uniform light effect through the acrylic cylinder. Considering the different light transmittances of red acrylic and white acrylic, a dimming system is set up for the internal light source in order to achieve the same brightness.

The lighting design of the luminous columns not only meets the needs of the exhibition, but also echoes the curator's design concept of "allowing visitors to walk through the scroll-style colonnade and read about China's 40-year urban renewal process." The unique light and shadow effects of China Pavilion attract many tourists to stroll and focus.