Splendid Steed, Radiant Glow

For the 2026 Chinese horse zodiac New Year, PHAIdesign created an immersive fantasy art installation under the theme "Splendid Steed, Radiant Glow". Taking flowers as the visual thread, the design integrates three core elements: the steed, light and shadow, and the Spring Festival, presenting a dreamy festive experience with a playful and romantic design language.
The site is composed of two adjacent distinctive parts — Life Hub @ Bund Central (a newly built commercial center) and The Inlet (a century-old protected historical precinct in Shanghai) — the project embraces both historical texture and modern spirit. PHAIdesign adopts an integrated approach of abstract and figurative, traditional and contemporary expressions, highlighting the unique character of each architecture and formulating a site-specific design scheme.
On the rooftops of The Inlet`s traditional alleyways, PHAIdesign reinterprets classic mythological imagery with four figurative Tianma (Heavenly Horse) descending from clouds, surrounded by the sea of blossoms. Its graceful form pays tribute to traditional auspicious symbolism while resonating aesthetically with the timeless charm of the historic architecture.
At the South Plaza of Life Hub @ Bund Central, two abstract playful white steeds, sculpted in a playful balloon‑art style, roam freely in the sea of blossoms. It is a celebration of color and a fresh, vibrant interpretation of festival spirit through contemporary aesthetics.
Positioned at different heights and set against old and new contexts respectively, Tianma and the white steed face each other across space, forming a timeless dialogue between history and modernity. As the cohesive core element, flowers run through the entire design, revitalizing the century-old alleyways with festive warmth and injecting playful vitality into the modern commercial space.The overall design balances concrete forms and abstract expression, using contemporary materials and delicate lighting design. As light and shadow flow, the “splendid steed” dances gracefully and the “radiant glow” shimmers brightly, exuding the distinctive Shanghai-style festive atmosphere and unique Chinese romance.