Moonwell at The Cosmic House

The Cosmic House’s Moonwell is a shaft of space that cuts through the building to bring light to an otherwise dark landing and dressing room. The Moonwell’s mirrored surfaces create a spatial ambiguity. At first the space appears to be a cylinder, like the Solar Stair. Close up, however, it is recognisable as a half-circle, with mirrors creating the illusion of a well-like space. At the top one can see a moon etched in the glass, designed by Charles Jencks and Ilinca Cantacuzino. The design for the etched moon is based on the Chinese legend about Liu Hai, the god who is always portrayed with a three-legged toad. In Chinese culture, the two figures are traditionally symbols of good fortune, since the greedy toad can be lured out of the well only with gold coins. References to Chinese symbolism throughout the house reveal Maggie Jencks’ upbringing in Hong Kong and her strong cultural connections to China.