Bamboo Theatre Scaffolder —— Master Chan Yuk Kwong

The Bamboo Rotunda stands as a testament to the fusion of traditional craftsmanship, as interpreted by a bamboo master in Hong Kong, and the modern design concept of collaborative place-making.

The bamboo master and artisans have put enormous effort and hard work into the Bamboo Rotunda construction. We are pleased to interview the key figure behind building the Bamboo Rotunda — Master Chan Yuk Kwong.

“Constructing the Bamboo Rotunda is tough because it needs traditional skills as well as considers environmental impact, and only bamboo can be used, not wood, due to project requirements.”

The Bamboo Rotunda design completely differs from conventional Bamboo-shed theatres for Operas for Deities. In addition, the Bamboo Rotunda construction has become increasingly difficult due to environmental issues, ranging from rain to tidal. These factors are quite a challenge to Master Chan. The construction site is limited and located on the seaside. Thus, he spent a lot of time thinking about how to solve those problems and restrictions in the Bamboo Rotunda construction. He did admit that there were times when he wanted to give up. Yet, he gritted his teeth and persisted in the construction to reach the original design by the Architect of Bamboo Rotunda Haynie Sze.

As the Bamboo Rotunda nears completion, we invite you to join us at Yim Tin Tsai village for our upcoming events. Here, you can witness the remarkable craftsmanship of Master Chan and other bamboo artisans, a testament to their dedication and skill.