Behind the Concrete is a monthly snippet where we introduce a piece of architecture that has a unique design and/or interesting story.
Project name: Temple for the God of Wealth
Location: Huoshan county, Lu’an
Area: 20 square meters
Design company: CNRPD / Fuyingbin Studio
The brief: While they were constructing a public square and parking lot for Huoshan county, the project team from CNRPD and Fuyingbin Studio found a nearly 200-year-old temple for the God of Wealth onsite. As they dug deeper into its history, and discovered it had been a spiritual gathering space, as well as a symbol for fortune and luck for the local village for generations, the designers decided to convince their client to allow them to move the monument and rebuild it nearby.
Image by Zhang Qianxi
Moved just 10 meters away from where the original used to be, the new temple is surrounded by hills and greenery on three sides.
Image by Zhang Qianxi
Unlike the former structure, which was dark and covered by concrete walls and a traditional roof, the new pavilion features an open-air area for worship.
Image by Zhang Qianxi
For the temple’s concrete frame, designers enlisted the help of local craftsmen to create a unique mold that resembles woven bamboo mats.
Image by Zhang Qianxi
The walls are made with hollow red bricks, which allow plenty of natural light to enter the area of worship. Local villagers have also filled the holes with blessings for their loved ones.
Click here for more Behind the Concrete. All photos by Zhang Qianxi, courtesy of CNRPD / Fuyingbin Studio.
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