The architect's canvass

Monday, June 6, 2011

INSPIRED BY ABBEY ROAD. A 1969 photograph of the Beatles crossing Abbey Road inspired this dynamic concept of Xing Cafe’s interiors, which includes the angles on ceiling and walls and the simulation of the pedestrian lane.

“I allowed myself to become a ‘blank canvass’,” says a young architect when asked about his design approach for a recent project.

Have something to report? Tell us in text, photos or videos.

The project at hand is the renovation and extension of a restaurant now known as Xing Café, which is located along A.S. Fortuna St., Banilad, Mandaue City. It is designed by architect Michael Sanchez. The restaurant actually works in tandem with a carwash, a perfect spot to get two things done: have your cars cleaned while hanging out at the café for some gastronomic treats.

Architect Sanchez recalls that an architect’s basic tools have always been a blank paper or canvass and a pencil. He said that by allowing himself and the existing space to be the canvass, the project owner can freely express herself like a “kid sketching on clean paper”.

It was also useful for the architect to be a constant visitor to the restaurant before it was given a more dynamic look. How different users of the space behave and do their activities inside is also an important factor in its design.

The result of the architect’s meticulous swim into the psyche of his client and the building is a contemporary and modern space, which is a perfect backdrop for the colorful activities that are done within it. The dining area has a great view of the carwash area providing car owners a spot watch their cars being cleaned up while sipping coffee or alcoholic drink.

The KTV rooms are situated in a more private section at the back of the building. The sound insulated conference rooms are also located here for small and private functions.

“The very heart of Xing Cafe is the kitchen. It required a huge work space to concoct a Chinese fusion cuisine that can provide for the dining areas, KTV rooms and conference rooms,” the architect discloses.

The restaurant’s name summarized the overall concept of the space. “Xing” in Chinese means “star” and is associated with the “star” offering of the café, which is its cuisine. Xing also denotes “crossing” and vehicular traffic, as represented by the carwash. Finally, it is the sounds-like factor to “sing” one’s heart out in the KTV rooms.

Another factor that the architect used to reinforce his design was a 1969 photograph of The Beatles crossing Abbey Road. “It perfectly captured the concept that I was looking for. It was on a street, a place that chooses no one and a pedestrian lane where car and people interact,” he explains.

“Paradoxical”, he says of the photo. Its “illusion of movement” is very evident in the angles found on Xing Café’s floors, walls and ceiling, an approach he learned during his apprenticeship days under Cebuano modernist architect Alexius Medalla.

Being a profession where engineering and art are intertwined perfectly, one could now say that architecture is one of the most socially-sensitive design fields. The dynamic professional relationship between client and architect is important as exemplified in architect Sanchez’s work and his “I Create with You” approach to his designs.