A slice of Singapore creativity has landed in the heart of Shanghai, this time in the form of a floating botanical maze that celebrates the sights, scents and rituals of summer. Until 5 July, visitors to Rockbund Square can wander through The Mirror, a large-scale public installation by Singapore botanical design studio This Humid House (THH), created for the launch of Chinese lifestyle brand BEAST’s latest fragrance collection.

Rather than designing a traditional flower display, the studio has imagined an immersive landscape that encourages slow exploration. Elevated on pot stands, the garden appears to hover above the plaza, inviting visitors to meander through winding pathways filled with locally sourced flowers, ornamental grasses, fruiting plants and unexpected seasonal touches.

At the heart of the installation is a curved reflective infinity wall that visually dissolves the boundary between garden and city. It captures the surrounding skyline—including David Chipperfield’s restoration of Shanghai’s historic Rockbund district—creating the illusion that the landscape stretches endlessly beyond the square.

The project was conceived around an unusual idea: how do you design a garden inspired by fragrance?

“For this project, we became interested in the qualities of scent itself—something light, diffuse and without fixed direction,” says John Lim, founder and creative director of This Humid House. “Rather than creating a garden with clearly defined focal points, we imagined a landscape shaped by a series of small encounters. A little bit of everything—flowers, grasses, fruits and unexpected discoveries—coming together to evoke summer.”

One of those discoveries is a hidden patch of melons, a playful nod to one of China’s most familiar summer rituals. “Eating melons is one of those quintessential experiences of summer in China,” Lim explains. “It’s simple, familiar and full of joy. Plants are powerful because they carry memories. A little melon patch hidden inside a garden feels unexpected, but somehow completely natural at the same time. We wanted visitors to stumble across these small moments of happiness while wandering through the work.”

Elsewhere, golden lotus bananas, pagoda flowers and summer grasses are layered throughout the maze, while a contemplative water garden forms its centrepiece. Black water lilies float among rose hips and curly willow in the plaza fountain, offering a moment of calm amid the lush abundance.

Although the installation was designed in Singapore, it was realised in Shanghai over several days with BEAST’s in-house floral designers using entirely locally sourced botanical materials.

For This Humid House, The Mirror represents another milestone in the studio’s growing international portfolio. Founded in Singapore, the practice has become known for creating immersive botanical experiences that blur the lines between landscape, art and design. Its work has previously been recognised with First Prize at Festival FLORA in Córdoba, Spain, and has been exhibited internationally, including at the Chelsea Flower Show in the United Kingdom.

For Singaporeans planning a quick getaway to Shanghai over the next week, the installation offers a rare opportunity to experience one of the homegrown studio’s large-scale public works overseas. Open until 5 July at Rockbund Square, The Mirror transforms an urban plaza into a fleeting celebration of summer—one best experienced slowly, and with all the senses.

The Mirror is on view now at Rockbund Square, Shanghai, until 5th July 2026 at 20 Huqiu Rd, Waitan, Huangpu, Shanghai, China, 200085