As part of Low Carbon Chinatown, a Pop-Up Structure built from low carbon materials and processes will be installed in Chinatown this September and featured in London Design Festival 2022

Built from low carbon materials and processes, the structure will host a series of sit-down tastings featuring low carbon dishes chosen and developed by London’s East and South East Asian communities alongside a data scientist and acclaimed Asian food writers. The tastings will be accompanied by discussions and talks on the data science of climate change and how it relates to Chinese heritage and food culture.

Low Carbon Chinatown is a project by designer, artist and CAN Associate Artist Director, Ling Tan. The low carbon Pop-Up Structure is designed by Ling and designer Usman Haque, both trained as architects, supported by structural engineers Atelier One, and fabricated by Gary Campbell.

The Pop-Up Structure is intended to showcase other aspects of tackling the Climate Crisis by adopting low carbon approaches to designing and fabricating sustainable touring works. Designed to be easily assembled/disassembled and transported by a small electric van, the structure is made from a range of materials that are sustainable/low-carbon or easily recyclable in existing facilities once touring ends. 

The Pop-Up Structure is intended to showcase other aspects of tackling the Climate Crisis by adopting low carbon approaches to designing and fabricating sustainable touring works. Designed to be easily assembled/disassembled and transported by a small electric van, the structure is made from a range of materials that are sustainable/low-carbon or easily recyclable in existing facilities once touring ends. 

The Structure has three key components: a Preparation Unit, a long Banquet Table, and a Pleated Canopy. These are made primarily from three materials: 

• UK grown Bamboo for structural members

• EnviroHoard for cladding and surfaces

• Tyvek for sun/rain protection

In addition, all the chairs used in the Pop-Up have been lent to us by different nearby Chinatown businesses, placing the project within a local sharing economy – with thanks to Min Tea, Wing Wing, Pot Pot Matatang, Jin Li, New Canton, Ku Bar, Gourmet Kitchen, Shanghai Modern, Candy Cafe, Imperial China, Mi Canteen, Monga, Dumplings’ Legend, Leong’s Legend, Real Beijing, Shu Xiang Ge, Wan Chai Corner and New China.