A striking 33.5-meter-tall cylindrical observatory tower now stands sentinel over one of China's most ecologically significant wetlands, offering visitors unprecedented views while protecting the delicate ecosystem below. The Lunar Tower, designed by the South China University of Technology Architectural Design and Research Institute Co. Ltd. (SCUT), rises from the eastern edge of the Hainan Dongzhaigang National Nature Reserve, home to the country's largest continuous mangrove forest. The innovative structure serves dual purposes as both a scientific observatory and a monumental architectural addition to the biodiverse coastal wetlands.
Positioned strategically near the estuary, the tower's slender 110-foot vertical profile mirrors the surrounding mangrove trunks while minimizing environmental impact. From its top platform, visitors can enjoy expansive views stretching toward the Qiongzhou Strait. The reserve sustains a dense network of biodiversity, and the tower functions as a calibrated instrument designed for viewing and understanding the environment rather than intruding upon its natural rhythms.
The architectural design follows principles of disciplined simplicity and ecological integration. The cylindrical form was specifically chosen to reduce ground disturbance and maintain minimal contact with the sensitive wetland environment below. This vertical structure with its compact footprint aligns perfectly with the reserve's conservation objectives, enabling scientific research, public observation, and disaster monitoring without compromising the delicate ecological setting.
The tower's most distinctive feature is its perforated outer shell, which takes design cues from the elliptical shape and natural rhythm of mangrove leaves. Rendered in low-reflective white aluminum, this innovative surface serves multiple functions: filtering natural light, ventilating the interior stairwell, and softening the tower's visual presence within the natural landscape. The subtle layering between the facade and internal structure creates an ecological buffer that dampens human impact on migratory bird patterns while allowing the tower to breathe in the coastal air.
Structurally, the Lunar Tower represents a masterful balance of engineering precision and architectural lightness. The tower's steel frame comprises eighteen vertical pipe columns connected by ring beams and spiral stair ribs, forming a continuous system designed to resist both wind forces and torsional stress. Filled concrete in the lower sections strengthens the foundation against typhoon-level forces while maintaining an overall sense of weightless rhythm throughout the structure.
The interior experience unfolds through carefully planned ascending sequences, with rest and observation platforms positioned at 12, 24, and 27 meters above ground level. Spiral staircases wind through the perforated skin, offering visitors intermittent glimpses of mangrove foliage and tidal movements as they climb. Each landing marks a distinct shift in temperature, light quality, and ambient sound, creating a gradient of sensory experiences shaped by elevation rather than enclosure.
As daylight fades, the tower undergoes a remarkable transformation that earned it the name "Lunar Tower." The circular upper aperture glows softly like a faint lunar disc against the darkening sky. The lighting scheme remains deliberately restrained, carefully designed to safeguard critical migratory bird routes while subtly articulating the tower's geometric form. Interior light sources are kept subdued, while gentle illumination across the outer aluminum panels and upper ring evokes the gradual appearance of moonlight over the wetlands.
This quiet interplay of light and reflection connects the structure intimately to its surrounding environment, with the pale aluminum surface gathering and reflecting the changing hues of sky and sea throughout the day. The tower's nighttime illumination creates a beacon that respects the natural wildlife patterns while providing a gentle landmark for visitors and researchers.
Through these carefully considered design elements and environmental adaptations, the Lunar Tower embodies SCUT's comprehensive approach to ecological architecture. Rather than imposing upon the landscape, the structure functions as an extension of the wetland's own natural rhythms, demonstrating how modern architecture can enhance rather than detract from sensitive ecological environments while serving important scientific and educational purposes.
