Architects: Neri&Hu Design and Research Office
Area: 974 m²
Year: 2022
Photography: Runzi Zhu
Partners In Charge: Lyndon Neri, Rossana Hu
Associate In Charge: Lei Zhao
Design Team: Ivy Feng, Tian Hua, Wenbo Da, Joy Han, Mingxuan Wei, Nicolas Fardet, July Huang, Lyuqitiao Wang
Interior Design: Neri&Hu Design and Research Office
FF&E Design: Design Republic
LDI: Questing Building (Beijing) Technology Co., LTD
Lighting Consultant: Linea Light (China) CO., LTD.
General Contractor: Beijing Jianyan Urban Renewal Engineering Technology Co. LTD.
Client: Beijing Lao Ding Feng Food Co., LTD
City: Beijing
Country: China
Neri&Hu Design and Research Office was tasked with the adaptive reuse of an old warehouse in Beijing for the historic Beijing pastry brand, Lao Ding Feng, established in 1911. The site, once bustling with industrial activity and home to the Langyuan Station, is undergoing transformation. The design encapsulates the essence of the brand’s traditional pastries, translated into architectural form through a cast concrete object seamlessly integrated within the old brick structure. This innovative juxtaposition of old and new facilitates multifunctional spaces including retail, office, and public areas, showcasing a thoughtful connection of past, present, and future.
Located near the Northeast 5th Ring Road, the site of this project lies within a formerly industrial zone featuring its train depot, Langyuan Station, historically used for transporting goods in and out of Beijing. Presently, the area is transitioning, prompting a need for reimagining old structures.
Neri&Hu was commissioned to repurpose an old warehouse formerly utilized for cotton textile production. This building now serves as the primary office and retail concept store for Lao Ding Feng. The strategy employed by Neri&Hu starts with a comprehensive evaluation of the existing structures to determine which elements can be retained and restored. It is crucial that any new additions both honor and contrast with the existing framework to emphasize the distinction between the old and the new.
The design draws inspiration from the client’s key product—decoratively molded traditional Chinese pastries. A newly introduced cast concrete structure is melded into the original brick framework, forming the primary retail, gallery, and office areas through its various openings and negative spaces.
Once the concrete is set and cured, artisans bush-hammer the surface to create a texture that both contrasts and complements the old bricks. In places, the fresh concrete protrudes and becomes visible on the façade, filling voids and marking new entrances. The spaces between the new concrete form and the existing structure offer room for a café and a versatile lobby area.
The ground level accommodates the exhibition space, the flagship store, the garden, and the café, while the upper floor houses the main office. Navigating through the new concrete structure and the spaces between the new and old elements fosters a connection across time, giving a new home to this traditional Beijing pastry brand that resonates with historical continuity.
Project Gallery
Project Location
Address: Beijing, China
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
