Buddha residence Unlike previous projects of TEAM BLDG, this is a space with specific purpose which is to showcase the Buddha statues of JIANGJIABAN. Therefore, the design needs to not only deliver humanity, but also create the divine and religious atmosphere. At the early times of Buddhism, there was no physical subject for people to pray to. With the rise of Mahayana Buddhism and development of craftsmanship, Buddhism stepped into the “Era of Image”. It’s a big challenge to deliver the intangible perception with the interaction between the tangible Buddha statues and the building. The design concept emerged in the initial meetings, that it should be a hidden and even invisible architecture. The building is merely an intermedium to carry the Buddha statues and contain the essence of Buddhism, to be a residence for Buddha in the earth.
Background
The project is located at the former site of an aluminum factory in Huli District, Xiamen City. The building was originally a public bath of the factory. In 2019, the building was also partially renovated after the aluminum factory was transformed into a creative office park with multiple business forms, such as bars, basketball arena, and live-streaming space. This time we were commissioned by the Buddha artist Jiang Sheng to renovate the building into a new studio and exhibition space called The Field .
The word Elysium originates from Buddhism, meaning the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss or Sukhavati, but THE FIELD is not intended to be an isolated pure land. The owner hopes to abandon the concept of isolated and unreachable and create an attractive spiritual place.