also architects crafts modular umbrella-like installations made of bamboo and tensed fabric

Also Architects designs for Urban Nomad Art Museum in china

As part of the R-Day Music Festival in Chengmai, Hainan, Also Architects developed a series of modular art installations for the Urban Nomad Art Museum. The project was designed to align with the museum’s concept of ‘borderless curation’ while ensuring ease of assembly, disassembly, and reconfiguration for future reuse. Through a modular system, the installations serve as both temporary structures and adaptable elements for future applications.

The installation draws inspiration from sound wave propagation, transforming vibration patterns into spatial configurations. The umbrella-like bamboo structures mimic the form of sound diffusion, with hexagonal contours and undulating fabric reflecting variations in frequency. These modules can be arranged in linear, circular, or scattered configurations to suit different functions, such as a marketplace or forum space.

all images by INSPACE

Also Architects’ Sustainable Modular Design for Adaptive Reuse

Also Architects’ design team selects bamboo as the primary material for its flexibility and sustainability. The structure integrates bamboo ribs, curved through heat bending, with a central steel ring and precision-engineered joints for stability. A tensile fabric canopy, supported by steel tubing, reduces wind pressure while allowing light and air to pass through. After the festival, components will be repurposed, with fabric transformed into merchandise and bamboo reconfigured into urban furniture. This approach ensures minimal waste and extends the lifecycle of materials.

The modular design allows for real-time adjustments in layout and density. In the market area, continuous canopies provide shelter, while in the performance space, staggered modules enhance acoustics. Open arrangements in relaxation areas facilitate airflow. The hexagonal module, an efficient geometric form seen in natural structures, supports both flexibility and structural integrity. Once dismantled, the modules can be relocated and adapted to new cultural settings, reinforcing the concept of mobile, sustainable art.

modular art installations designed for the R-Day Music Festival in Chengmai, Hainan

inspired by sound wave propagation, the design transforms vibration into spatial forms

bamboo umbrella-like structures mimic the diffusion of sound waves

hexagonal contours reflect the geometric patterns found in nature

modules can be arranged in linear, circular, or scattered configurations

undulating fabric represents variations in sound frequency

the installation adapts to different functions, from marketplaces to forum spaces

bamboo was chosen for its flexibility and sustainable properties

the modular design allows real-time layout adjustments

project info:

name: Urban Nomad Art Museum

architects: Also Architects

location: Haikou, China

area: 350 sqm

design team: Valo Xiao, Ziming Ye, Jane Zhang, April Lo

curatorial institution: R-Day Music Festival & Urban Nomad Art Museum

curator: Ottavio Zhang

lighting design: WOY Lighting

construction unit: Innovbamboo Architectural Technology Co., Ltd. 

photographer: INSPACE

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom