stone-oven bakery and restaurant reconfigures 1970s auditorium in rural china

A rural auditorium built in the 1970s, tied to Nixon’s visit to China, was acquired in 2022 for renovation and structural reconstruction, completed by the end of 2023. In early 2025, the program was redefined as a rural stone-oven bakery, and Tens Atelier developed the spatial design. The site rises to the west and slopes down to the east, with the eastern side opening to views of village, fields, and mountains. Full-height glass curtain walls create visual continuity and make daylight and landscape key spatial elements. Bamboo groves on the west and north enclose supporting areas such as the back kitchen and restrooms. An inner-architecture approach organizes space according to environmental gradients and circulation logic, keeping openness while separating interior program from exterior view corridors. The stone oven and the landscape beyond the glass facade form opposing focal anchors.

"Cycle&Cycle Stone-oven Bakery Restaurant by Tens Atelier is located in Shangwang Village, Fusheng Town, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, . The building was originally constructed in the 1970s as a rural auditorium, associated with Nixon's visit to China and carrying a specific historical context. In 2022, Cycle&Cycle acquired the construction and usage rights, initiating renovation and structural reconstruction, which was completed by the end of 2023. In early 2025, the program was redefined as a rural stone-oven , and Tens Atelier was commissioned to develop the spatial design."

"The site is shaped by a natural topography that rises to the west and descends toward the east. The eastern side opens toward views of the surrounding village, fields, and mountainous landscape. This orientation defines the main dining area, where full-height glass curtain walls establish visual continuity between interior and exterior conditions, emphasizing daylight and landscape as spatial elements. The western and northern edges are bordered by bamboo groves, resulting in a more enclosed spatial condition. These areas are organized to accommodate supporting functions, including the back kitchen and restrooms."

"The overall layout is structured through an 'inner architecture' approach, where spatial organization responds directly to the environmental gradient and circulation logic of the site. The spatial configuration maintains openness while distinguishing between interior program and exterior view corridors. The stone oven and the landscape beyond the glass facade operate as primary focal elements, establishing two opposing spatial anchors within the composition."

"Given the rural context, the design avoids an urbanized or highly refined expression. The designers at Tens Atelier opt for material choices and construction methods that are aligned with a restr"

Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine