Emerging gracefully from the lush mangrove wetlands of Hainan’s Dongzhaigang National Nature Reserve, the Lunar Tower by the South China University of Technology Architectural Design and Research Institute (SCUT) stands as a quiet celebration of balance between human craftsmanship and the natural world.
33.5 metres above China’s largest continuous mangrove forest, the cylindrical tower serves as both an observatory and a landmark for environmental awareness. Designed to appear as if it has grown organically from the landscape, it invites visitors to experience the wetlands from new heights while leaving the lightest possible footprint on the terrain below.
The design centres on aluminium, a material that unites durability with delicacy. The tower’s perforated, matte-white aluminium skin draws inspiration from the soft geometry of mangrove leaves, wrapping the structure in a breathable, light-filtering layer. This façade reduces glare and reflection to protect migratory birds, while its low-reflective surface and natural ventilation maintain comfort in the humid coastal climate.
Structurally, the tower is supported by eighteen vertical steel columns tied by ring beams and spiral stair ribs. Reinforced concrete anchors its base to withstand typhoon-level winds, while aluminium’s natural resistance to corrosion ensures long-term resilience against salt and moisture. 
As evening falls, the tower glows softly through its perforated panels, transforming into a lunar disc that hovers over the mangroves, a quiet nod to the rhythm of the tides and the phases of the moon. Through its subtle use of aluminium and sensitivity to its environment, SCUT’s Lunar Tower embodies a vision of ecological architecture that harmonizes technology, material, and landscape.
Source: architectureprize.com with additional information added by Glass Balkan
