Each person has some sweet childhood memory. A piece of toy or small snack may bring us back to the happy time in our childhood. Carlos Marreiros, senior architect from Macau, also has a cherished childhood "buddy" – rabbit lantern which is used in the design of the Macau Pavilion of Expo 2010.

Childhood Memory? Practical Meaning?

When the topic comes to rabbit lantern, Carlos, the 52-year-old gentleman, talked like a child. The old lantern which used to be his daughter’s toy 20 years ago is still well-kept in his house. And Carlos didn’t deny that just this childhood buddy provided him the inspiration of Macau Pavilion.

As to Carlos, the sweet memory from childhood as an inspiration is one thing, while the practical meaning of design is another. "Rabbit is a symbol of harmony and intelligence, an animal people of all times deem as auspicious. It is sweet, mild, smart and lively, just like Macau, a small place that includes everything. So I find it quite suitable to describe Macau as a rabbit", Carlos said. "Also, the ‘rabbit lantern’ is 19.99 meters high, indicating the year when Macau returned to the motherland, and is thus of special significance."

Eastern? Western? Traditional? Modern?

Though born in Macau, Carlos received most of his education in Europe. As an "eastern and western" architect, he strives to create a distinctive architectural style with his knowledge and artistic talent. He shapes the Macau Pavilion to be a traditional handmade rabbit lantern, but boldly uses fluorescent color which is popular in the West as the main color of the "rabbit". The Pavilion employs the mechanical design principles of the traditional rabbit lantern in the structure and the latest modern scientific and environment protection concept in the interior design. Such a design combines both Chinese and Western, traditional and modern elements, fully reflecting the city spirit of Macau as a mixture of Chinese and western, of traditions and modernity, as well as tradition based innovation and ongoing development.

Carlos especially introduces the design highlights and environment protection practice of the "rabbit" to the reporter. In his eyes, the barrier-free spiral shaped gallery is the top highlight of the pavilion. This is the main passage and exhibition space in the pavilion. The barrier-free design offers easy access to the disabled. Walking in the gallery, the visitors can savor Macau’s yesterday,today and tomorrow. The whole pavilion is made of glass and steel. After the 6-month exhibition, these materials will be recycled for use. Integrated solar power is used in the building as the pavilion’s power supply system.

Architect? Artist? Writer? Professor?

Carlos has many architecture related titles on his name card. With talent, he is not only an architect, but also has great achievements in painting and literature.

"Expo 2010": How do you position yourself?

Carlos: I enjoy cultural activities, but currently I spend most of my time on architecture design.

"Expo 2010": Do you also integrate your understanding of painting and literature into the design of Macau Pavilion?

Carlos: Yes. I deeply believe that architecture has life, so I try to use elements like materials, color and language signs to make architecture richly artistic and poetic.

"Expo 2010": Can you give us some examples?

Carlos: The transparent exterior wall of the Macau Pavilion will take on different effects with lighting and color, and the interior display will introduce painting and traditional Chinese calligraphy with mutli-media technology. I also want to share a little secret that every visitor to the Macau Pavilion will be given a rabbit lantern as gift. When visitors walk in the gallery with lantern in hand, it will be a very interesting picture that colorful lantern lights are moving on when you look into the pavilion from outside through the semitransparent glass.