The star-shaped units form a self-supporting wooden structure
Astral Ascent is a specific location installation which explores the relationship between geometry, structure and spatial perception through a articulated manufacturing system. The project, designed by Yue Fei Zheng, is based on traditional timber carpentry principles, reinterpreting the logic of the pieces within a contemporary framework based on repetition and interlocking elements.
The facility consists of more than 700 star-shaped modules made from sustainable panels. Each module is designed to function both as an individual geometric element and as a structural link in the larger system. Using a custom tendon approach, the components interlock without mechanical fasteners, forming a self-supporting assembly. This method extends the principles of traditional sunmao frames into a multi-directional, modular configuration.
Assembled in layers, the units create a vertical structure that transitions from dense clustering at the base to a more open configuration towards the top. This gradation creates a spatial and visual shift from solidity to porosity, allowing the structure to be read as both mass and frame.
all images courtesy of Yue Fei Zheng
Shifting Light reveals the Geometry of the Solid and the Void
The spatial experience of the installation is defined by the relationship between solid elements and voids. The star-shaped units form the primary mass, while the gaps between them create a negative-form secondary system. These voids vary in scale and orientation, changing in appearance as the viewer moves in and around the structure.
Light plays a key role in articulating this relationship. Sunlight streams through the openings, casting shadows that capture the geometry of the voids on the surrounding surfaces. This interaction introduces a temporal dimension, as changing light conditions alter the perception of form throughout the day.
Materials, the work from designer Yue Fei Zheng emphasizes the natural properties of its ingredients. The use of sustainable panels with visible grain, cut marks and exposed edges highlights the construction process. The installation also responds to site conditions, including light, airflow and surrounding vegetation, incorporating environmental factors into its spatial performance.
The star-shaped units are assembled in a vertical spatial system
Through the combination of modular geometry, interlocking construction and material expression, Astral Ascent examines how traditional building logic can be adapted to a modern system that functions without additional fasteners while maintaining structural and spatial coherence.
more than 700 units form a self-supporting structure without fasteners
interlocking components reinterpret traditional frames
