Shanghai, China
Adopting a traditional vertical axis on a site area of 3.3 acres in Luodian Town, Shanghai, Baoshan Temple by Yuangou Architects & Consultants for Li Gang restores a former temple complete with gardens and a seven-story pagoda.
Baoshan Temple is the former palace of King Brahma established during the period of Emperor Zhengde in the Ming Dynasty.
The area on which the temple site belonged to regions south of the Yangtze River in ancient times and has a history stretching over 500 years.
Throughout history, the original palace was revived and abandoned many times.
With the execution of the plan of one city and nine towns in Shanghai and the start of the renovation of Luodian Old Town, Baoshan Temple has been reconstructed on the land near its original location.
The Baoshan Temple has recently been awarded a 2022 International Architecture Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
The overall design presents a palace in the style of the late Tang dynasty.
Pure tenon-and-mortise structure in Africa Padauk wood is carefully sculpted to embody its grandness.
The first and second courtyards are for external Buddha worships, while the third one is for living and management use.
A 20,000-square-meter Zen garden is provided in the east.
New Baoshan Temple, palace site, and its garden form a new landscape belt with Buddhist culture at its core.
The overall layout of “seven halls” is adopted.
Heavenly King Hall, Buddha Hall, Buddhist Scripture Library, and Dharma abbot room are built along the central axis, while the courtyard is connected by a winding corridor.
The Temple is the largest pure wooden building complex of the Tang style in East China.
The traditional wooden structure technique and further creative extension have been selected for the sixth Shanghai Intangible Cultural Heritage Representative Project List and Expansion Project List.
The architectural design takes cues according to the materials and building codes of the Song Dynasty and the still-practiced timber structure approach of the Tang Dynasty, such as modulus, detail nodes, and materials.
Not only is the traditional construction process preserved, but a new construction approach for timber structures and ancient buildings was explored to ensure the smooth completion of Baoshan Temple.
The new Baoshan Temple provides a prayer and worship space for Buddhist believers, a destination for Buddhists at home and abroad to come together.
The Golden Pagoda is in the style of the late Tang Dynasty.
The plan is square, with three rooms both wide and deep, and the height is composed of a foundation, main tower, and rooftop.
The seven-story wooden pagoda is made of pure wood of African rosewood.
In the design process, architects positioned BIM realization goals in 3D design, Revit model drawing, auxiliary component preprocessing, and component installation guidance.
Project: Baoshan Temple
Architects: Yuangou Architects & Consultants Ltd.
General Contractor: China Shanghai Architectural Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd.
Client: Li Gang
Photographers: Zhiyi Architectural Photography
