Dayuan Design's Glacier Project turns Shanghai plaza into interactive ice field

In Shanghai, Dayuan Design has partnered with the ocean conservation nonprofit N.O.C. to launch the Glacier Project, an interactive installation and sustainable exhibition themed Resonance of the Extremes. This outdoor display showcases nine geometric forms that reinterpret the shape of icebergs, allowing visitors to manipulate suspended components to alter the volumes. Constructed from recycled metals, discarded waterproof materials, mirrored stainless steel, and a lightweight frame, the modular design is intended for easy disassembly and reuse. Rainwater flows through openings, producing sound and reflections that enhance the experience. Additionally, the project features Flowing Glacier, a tabletop piece made with backflow incense and liuli glass, a traditional Chinese craft. The indoor exhibition unfolds in four chapters—Encounter, Remains, Listening, and Resonance—showcasing films, sounds, and artifacts from polar communities, spanning 160 square meters. Photography is by XUEQING, with construction by Dihua Art Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Mingshuntu Enterprise Management Co., Ltd.