The Abbaye Restaurant
The rapid urbanizaEon process in China totally splits the historical and contemporary buildings. The abundant history and tradiEonal culture that ciEes bear is gradually overwhelmed by fanaEcal development. Historical buildings represent a city’s past that has been given the meaning of urban culture. However, most of the historical buildings have been given up in the impetuous development.
The predecessor of Abbaye Belgium Restaurant designed by MRDA is Ma-lane Temple located in the East part of Sino-ocean Taikoo Li Chengdu, being one of the six historical buildings preserved in the Daci Temple historical area. The Ma-land temple experienced vicissitudes and was seriously damaged. Thanks for the Sino-ocean Taikoo Li Chengdu project who survived this old building and get it repaired.The before design to protect and repair the old building is by the Oval partnership and Architectural Design and Research Institute of Tsinghua University CO.LTD.
When a Belgium Restaurant full of features of Western Church seVled in an Eastern temple experiencing centuries of up and downs, the dialogue between Chinese and Western cultures begin.
This old building full of vicissitudes is not only a precious architectural heritage, but a witness of cultural spirits. In the view of architects, the restoraEon of historical architecture is something that we must do.
MRDA intend to balance the conflicts between historical building and contemporary funcEon with a subtle design technique in order to maintain the historical authenEcity and integrity while creaEng a sustainable acEvated space for communiEes at the same Eme.
In order to express respect to historical building, MRDA did their best to maintain the original architectural materials, colors and structure. In the whole restoraEon process, MRDA insist: minimum intervenEon and reversibility.
Rooted on the principle- reserving original architectural form, spaEal structure and decoraEve features, diversify boundaries of courtyard and insert abstract western element, in consideraEon of surrounding environment and needs of commercial operaEons. In the balance of abstract and enEty, a Western dining area appears in an Eastern historical building with a sense of Zen peace and harmony.
MRDA reserved and restored the temple’s architecture elements including window, hanging down, etc. and appropriately exert funcEonal repair and decoraEve protecEon. The inserted canopy enriched the space of courtyard and verified the use of courtyard. The linear lighEng system builds an abstract western church space, combing with tradiEonal wooden structure.
