Sarea Architecture: French Embassy

French architecture studio Sarea Architecture, lead by Alain Sarfati, has recently completed the new French Embassy in Beijing, which they describe as the "the perfect balance between Feng Shui and haute couture". The project, which was eight years in the making and was recently inaugurated by the French President, marks the opening of a new embassy in Chinese territory, after the United States, Japan and India.

Services and occupation started in Autumn 2011. The 20,000 square metre building features a garden at its heart, and consists of a Chancellery, Consulate, diplomatic residence and private apartments of the Ambassador. Alain Sarfati's site-specific, functional approach allowed for a bioclimatic design, in a constant interplay between the indoors and outsdoors, where Feng Shui played an important part.

The rusticated foundation and granite forecourt stand in contrast to the undulating façade overlooking the garden, with its silkscreened glass veil in golden hues. Inside, visitors are welcomed by the warm wood tones of a light-filled atmosphere.

Alain Sarfati's statement of intent for the project can be perused below.

Autumn in Beijing. "In this place, the light is special. Sandstorms and dust are part of our lives…" With those words, the Ambassador invited us to pay special attention to the climate and the context of the place. It was up to us to go beyond functional intricacies and safety standards and immerse ourselves in culture and symbol, to provide a link and convey a message through architecture. That was our mission.

Ideas became reality and a building stands in perfect harmony with its environment, soaking up the light in winter while providing an oasis from the heat of summer.

From shade to light, from the solid western façade that rises above the edge of the city like a protective screen to the fully glazed eastern façade giving on to the garden, the course of the sun was our guide in choosing what form to give each structure. The cardinal directions were points of reference that governed choices in terms of adjustments, contrasts, apertures, solar protection and materials.

The glazed Chancellery hall creates a backlit effect, highlighting the transition from outdoors to indoors to the garden. Here, a treasury of materials as varied as dark oak, pale beech, black granite and marbled limestone create a sort of interior landscape. Depending on whether the louvered doors are open or shut, the residence hall is bathed in dusky tones, deep shadows or bright light.

Light also animates the sunshades, which take on different hues depending on the time of day: gray ash, pinkish beige or warm gold. Once again, form takes cues from orientation. The silkscreen prints come alive as they play on dust particles, water and air.

On the northern side, a large glass veil unfurls in a soft golden wave: bioclimatic sensitivity meets haute couture. To the south, the Feng Shui tradition finds full expression in the reception rooms designed around a central light well opening onto a courtyard illustrating five elements. The marble evokes a landscape and the last rays of the setting sun; nature is brought inside. The various filters of the façade, with its gallery and terrace, suffuse the atmosphere with a soft light.

In the springtime, the garden and greenhouses will provide a stage for an ever-changing play of light. Nature thrives indoors while the mineral world dominates the outer forecourt – a palpable contrast between a well-grounded architectural ensemble and the evening sky aflame with the last rays of the sun. Alain Sarfati

Construction of French diplomatic campus in Beijing
Location: 60 Tianze lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Contracting authority French Republic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Lead contractor: Sarea Alain Sarfati Architecture
Architect and project managers: Christian Laquerrière, Ovidiu Milea et Cristiana Milea
Assistant architects: Ewina Chau, Jitka Darras
Technical contractor: Ginger Groupe Ingenierie Europe
Design Institute: BIAD (Beijing Institute of Architectural Design)
Landscape architect: Florence Mercier
Executive contractor S. Area - Ginger Groupe Ingenierie Europe, AES., Christian Prouvost
Area: 19 500 m² (Chancellery: 9 713 m2; Consulate: 6 614 m2; Residence: 3 173 m2)
Cost: 24 M€/hectare
Timeframe: Competition, 2004; Design studies, 2006 — 2009; Delivery, September 2011
General contractor: BCEG (Beijing Construction and Engineering Group)
Façade consultant: Bernard Viry, Nicolas Godelet
Residence decorator: Ministry of Foreign Affairs decoration service
Art grant: Jean-Bernard Métais, Vincent Lamoroux