BLENDED HISTORIES
Macau, a former Portuguese colony and now a Special Administrative Region of China, is renowned for its unique blend of Eastern and Western cultures. This project, completed as part of Hadrian Academy’s Designing Heritage program in collaboration with the Macau University of Science and Technology, reimagines the iconic St. Paul Church of Macau by reconstructing a missing section in a modern way.
Instead of a traditional restoration, the design transforms the site into a pavilion that bridges Portuguese architectural heritage with traditional Chinese bamboo craftsmanship. The see-through bamboo structure contrasts the solidity of the stone façade, symbolizing the fusion of resilience and ephemerality. Bamboo, deeply tied to Chinese culture, was chosen for its lightness and transparency, embodying Macau’s transient yet enduring spirit.
This project reinterprets preservation as a dynamic dialogue between past and present, showcasing how cross-cultural design can transform history into innovation.
Institution: Hadrian Academy, MA in Museography and Architecture.
Brief: Reinterpretation of the ruins of St. Paul in Macau
Collaboration: Macau University of Science and Technology, School of Architecture of Macau.
Team (Group 1): Giulia Massa, Rachele Bardella, Madeleine Caiazzo, Margherita Berto.
Professors: Francesco Leoni, Francesco Novelli, with contributions from Professor Haohao and Professor Podda (Liverpool-Xi’An University, Suzhou).
Project Type: Competition entry.
Academic Year: 2024/2025.
Macau Today
Project
Floorplan
Roof view
Transformation of the Church, trough re insertion of the original floorplan
Relationship with the facade
Bamboo altar
Urban design
Section
Bamboo columns with steel joints
Construction detail 1
Construction detail 2
View from the facade
View inside the pavilion
Inside the pavilion
Bridging Cultures Through Architecture & Urban Identity
As part of the WS_Macao-Guangzhou-Hong Kong competition, our project reinterpreted the ruins of St. Paul while enhancing the urban identity of Pátio do Espinho. To reconnect the site’s layered heritage, we proposed integrating traditional Portuguese pavement into the Chinese district, once a Portuguese colony.
By extending this iconic cobblestone pattern, already present in Macau, into the neighborhood, our design subtly reinforces the area’s multicultural history, strengthening its visual and cultural identity.
Our analysis identified three key squares as focal points for urban regeneration. These spaces, vital to the neighborhood’s social and cultural fabric, lacked a strong identity. Our project focused on enhancing them, integrating design elements that reflect Macau’s Portuguese-Chinese heritage.
Our analysis identified three key squares as focal points for urban regeneration. These spaces, vital to the neighborhood’s social and cultural fabric, lacked a strong identity. Our project focused on enhancing them, integrating design elements that reflect Macau’s Portuguese-Chinese heritage.
Vedgetable Garden
rest area and gathering point for meals
New square, which used to be abandoned, revitalized a social spot for the Neighbourhood
Communal Vedgetable Garden
New Square
