Itoigawa Mashiwa × Paludarium MASASHI|Contemporary art installations enter Hong Kong’s high-end residences

🌿 Itoigawa Masashi × Paludarium MASASHI

From 19th-century glass eco-pods to contemporary art in the lobbies of upscale Hong Kong residences

The historical legacy of bonsai and Paludarium


Paludarium, first created in 19th-century England, is a glass ecological display chamber designed specifically for plants. At the time, it provided a window for people to appreciate exotic and rare plants in the city, and it was a focal point at the Paris Exposition. This concept, combining nature and technology, opened up a completely new way of "preserving and displaying nature."

Years later, Japanese contemporary artist Azuma Makoto reinterpreted this historical symbol, creating the seventh-generation closed ecosystem – Paludarium “MASASHI”.
This is no longer just a container to protect plants, but a contemporary art installation that integrates light, water mist, wind sounds and temperature control, pushing nature onto the stage of the future.


Itogawa Kasuga - The Beauty of Details


Inside this futuristic glass capsule is Shimpaku Itoigawa from Japan.

The Itoigawa Juniper is renowned for its vigorous trunk, pale deadwood, and delicate leaves, making it a highly representative variety in the bonsai world. This particular juniper has weathered decades of storms; its gnarled branches resemble a soaring dragon, its leaves are as delicate as clouds, and the interplay of dead wood and greenery creates a scene resembling a natural sculpture.

In the mist, light and shadow and sound effects of Paludarium MASASHI, it is no longer just a static plant, but a living work of art that interacts with the environment and can tell the story of time and space.
This combination gives traditional bonsai aesthetics a new lease on life on the contemporary art stage.

Art in Action: Luxury Residences in Tai Kok Tsui, Hong Kong Gateway Square Mile


This artwork is now quietly displayed in a prestigious residential building in Tai Kok Tsui, Hong Kong. Gateway Square MileThe lobby.

When residents and visitors enter the lobby
What catches the eye is not only the design language of modern architecture,
There are also delightful surprises where nature and art intertwine.

Greenery and glass, withered wood and misty shadows reflect each other in the space.
It creates a contradictory yet harmonious atmosphere.
It is not just an art installation
It is also a symbol:
• 🌱 Natural sustainability
• 🎨 Breakthrough in Art
• 🏙️ City Surprises

This kind of existence transforms the lobby of a high-end residence from merely a passageway into an urban oasis that can draw attention and inspire reflection.

For us at PLAN+T, bonsai is not just a collection or decoration; it is a medium that resonates with art, architecture, and life. Through dialogue with international artists, bonsai is given new ways of presentation and cultural connotations.

Itogawa Masashi x Paludarium MASASHI
This is an attempt by traditional bonsai to transcend time and field.
This is also the starting point for PLAN+T's continued exploration of "nature × art × space".