BaO is a Paris (FR) and Beijing (CN) based architecture studio founded in 2010 by French architect Benjamin Beller. The studio operates under the strong belief that it is through acting and engaging with both research and design simultaneously that architecture becomes constructive. Through writings, speculative projects, installations, architectural design, urban and strategic planning, BaO systematically tries to propose a radical yet sensible and playful architecture.
As a trans-national, trans-disciplinary, trans-forming practice, BaO keeps adapting and testing new territories while advocating bold and critical ideas.
As a trans-national, trans-disciplinary, trans-forming practice, BaO keeps adapting and testing new territories while advocating bold and critical ideas.
News
BaO is currently working in Clichy (Paris) on a complete transformation of an L shaped historical building (14 appartments) dating back from the end of the XIXth century. One of the main intervention alongside the total reorganization of the units is to replace the former tile roof with a whole new storey. Two zinc-clad tilting volumes create two new units opening-up onto the courtyard with large glazed facades hiding behind a series of wooden brise-vues made from the former roof's reused rafters ... 
We are currently preparing the start of construction of a micro-housing project in Paris suburbs's Aubervilliers containing three multilevel housing units and a small commercial space. Part of the project consists in a complete overhaul of an existing house split in two apprtements and the other in building a brand new wooden volume with a roof garden... Wood add-on
: : : Completed project St Ouen : : :
Bao just completed a small extension in Paris suburb's Saint Ouen. A very simple lightweight two storeys wooden volume has been added atop a rather bland concrete house. The new addition manages to completely reorganise the home while providing the much needed extra spaces for the family.
: : more soon : :
BaO teamed up with Harrapa architects in Mayotte to work on a social housing building prototype that could help respond to the severe housing crisis on the island. How can we build economically and efficiently in a tropical climate? How to design housing units for families of up to 10 members? How can we find appropriate solutions responding to the urgencies of slums dwellers rehousing while ensuring resiliency ? 
BaO ran a student workshop with professor Kuo Jze Yi from Shenzhen University that led to the construction of a large triangular bamboo pavilion in Anji Zhejiang province. A special shout out to the Anji Bamboo Builders Association who were instrumental in this endeavor... 
BaO was commisionned to design a contemporary reinterpretation of a "gongxiaoshe" 供销社, a "community central bazar" in SanGe village Jiangsu province. We proposed an open structure that could house both an indoor community shop and a semi-outdoor food market hall...
BaO collaborated with Atelier YuanBen on a large rural redevelopment project in the north west of Wuyi Mountains in Fujian Province. It puts forward a large array of interventions ranging from infrastructure to agriculture renewal, heritage building transformations to ecological conservation, nature related activities to local circular economies. 
The 429 collective courtyard BaO has been working on with the French Embassy in Baitasi district has been inaugurated. The project proposes a reinterpretation of a traditionnal hutong house and lays out a twofold strategy: a low-carbon transformation of the historical building and the addition of a contemporary semi-outdoor U-shaped gallery recreating a central courtyard space. 
BaO just released a small and completely free manual for low carbon DIY refurbishment of Beijing hutong houses. The objective of the PingFang Book is to put back the question of historic districts preservation and regeneration into the hands of their inhabitants. This small booklet tries to give them simple tools and advices on how to maintain or improve their houses while acting in responsible ways towards the exceptionnal part of the city they live in ...
Museum(s)...
: : : teaching in CAA : : :
Benjamin Beller has been invited to teach a lab in Hangzhou's China Academy of Art. The course, taught alongside teachers Liu Tian, Hu Xian, and Tang Yong, is a study on the possibility for new forms of cultural amenities in China. The lab will be running until end of May after which the proposals will be exhibitied in the Academy's Xiangshan Campus.
: : more soon : :
BaO is currently cooperating with Gejianzhu on a small museum project on a beautiful site in Ningxia's bare loess plateaus. The rammed earth towering project is currently in design development phase and is hoped to be built in the next two years... 
The Yingpan eco-bathhouse project in Yunnan has been completed! We unfortunately haven't had the time to go back and take pictures of the completed building but will hopefully do so soon. Until then, check out the project here...