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The Mountain View, Shenzhen

The Mountain View, Shenzhen Building, Architecture, Chinese Culture Centre Design, Images

The Mountain View in Shenzhen

10 Dec 2020

The Mountain View

Design: Onexn Architects

Location: Building 6, Xiangshan Village, Xiangshan Street Community, Shahe Sub-district, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, China

Natural and serene surroundings Situated beside Yanhan Mountain, The Mountain View building is very close to nature and not far away from the city as well. It boasts tranquil natural surroundings, and faces multiple building clusters and public spaces of OCT LOFT, Shenzhen.

The client’s design brief didn’t specify a clear direction for the renovation of the dilapidated building, so the architects had to identify a most appropriate solution among various possibilities.

Nature – facing building In the bustling concrete jungle, nature is very precious. The original building is dilapidated, contrasting yet integrating with lush greenery around it. Through prudent design intervention, Onexn Architects intended to establish a new dialogue between nature and the building, and create experiences that are relevant to daily life.

The building consists of 5 floors. It adjoins a dormitory building and a court on east and south sides, and nestles under Yanhan Mountain on north and west sides. Before renovation, the first floor of the building was still in use, while the storeys above were in disrepair and leaky.

However, both the client and Onexn Architects saw new possibilities, hoping to bring people back to the building and feel the unique beauty of nature.

Combination of art and commerce The project is situated within OCT LOFT, a creative and cultural park that has accumulated rich cultural resources over the years. Based on the surrounding business environment, the client hoped that commercial operations in the building emphasize nature, integration, rarity and complementarity. After investigation and research, Onexn Architects decided to carry out transformation and renovation based on three key points: combination of art and commerce, complementarity of catering space and workspace, and branding-oriented spatial operation.

Through renovating and repurposing the building, the architects aimed to create a distinctive and mix-used cultural complex, which integrates diversified functional spaces such as store, restaurant, art gallery, theater, workspace, etc. The team incorporated a series of new business modes into the architectural space, to reorganize and activate the old property, blend it with surrounding fabric, and create a new artistic destination for the city.

Iconic facades that blend into nature New facades were naturally formed through enriching and integrating architectural spaces. The architects created large areas of blank surfaces and void spaces at staggering heights, and attached great importance to visitors’ experience, including the journey of entering the building and interaction with outdoor environment from the interior. The team hoped that visitors would be touched by nature and stimulated to interact with the building along the way walking close to the architecture.

The east facade is partially hidden in nature. The original entrance of 1F is not used as the main entrance of the building, since the lease of the existing canteen on this floor hasn’t expired yet. Instead, the architects made use of the height difference of the site, and set the main entrance beside the west square, which can be reached by pedestrians and vehicles along a slope.

Trees reveal a corner of the slope. The boundary of the slope is defined by weathering steel screens, which help guide visitors to stroll upwards and reach the main entrance.

Standing on the small yet open square in front of the main entrance, visitors can have a panoramic view of west and south facades of the building. Onexn Architects tried to create a holistic building surface. The whole architecture is like a hill, with stacked volumes extending to the sky and Yanhan Mountain.

The terrace above the main entrance is connected with a black spiral staircase that leads to 4F and 5F. Diversified structural blocks and distinct material textures complement each other, together producing an iconic facade.

Multiple functions and diversified spaces How to organize diversified functional areas in a reasonable manner and even leave space for future functional adjustment was a primary consideration. 2F is a vigorous space for pop-up market and exhibition, while 3F mainly functions as workspace. Restaurant, art gallery and theater are set on 4F and 5F. The fourth floor is the most complex space, which accommodates an urban exhibition hall, a bookstore, a gallery space, and theater entrance, etc.

Urban Exhibition Hall As the elevator reaches 4F, the urban exhibition hall will firstly come into view. Onexn Architects took advantage of the 1.2 meter height difference within the space, and created an experiential exhibition space where visitors can wander around.

Aftercompletion of the renovation, Onexn Architects curated an exhibition themed on “Concept of Dialogue” in this exhibition hall, which displayed the whole process of the project, from preliminary discussion to construction.

Staircase renovation (2F-4F) Staircase stretches from 2F to 4F, forming an atrium space. Natural light penetrates and filters into the atrium. The staircase is the main traffic node within the architectural space, and at the same time provides a venue for resting and salon activities.

4F-Bookstore 3 The bookstore is set around the skylight and beside the stairwell. The skylight and large areas of glass bring daylight and outdoor greenery into the space, thereby enhancing fusion and interaction between interior and outside.

4F-Art gallery Opposite to the bookstore is an art gallery, where Onexn Architects retained an existing structural column.

The exposed reinforced concrete column contrasts with clean and smooth new walls, hence generating a dialogue between the old and new. Besides, it also functions as a clue to the art gallery, where original architectural structures were completely preserved.

The existing grid of beams helped form a column-free gallery space. The ceiling shows a strong sense of order and is highlighted by light, which generates a bright and aesthetic environment.

Theater (3F-4F) The theater occupies the east side of 3F and 4F. The architects created several setbacks outside theater space, to form a double-height veranda, which guides people to enter the interior and allows them to enjoy and interact with greenery, sunshine and nature. This veranda blurs the boundary between the architecture and the surrounding environment. Steel columns at the corridor area are arranged in a row, which echoes flourishing plants nearby. Another entrance of the theater is set on 3F, which is flat and barrier-free.

5F-Restaurant The restaurant sits on the top floor. Functional spaces including private dining rooms and kitchen are folded out around the central courtyard and based on external environment. Onexn Architects rotated those volumes and carved out the rooftops, to establish a relatively close relationship between the interior and nature. Each room has a triangular balcony, which helps enhance interaction with nature. Standing here, you can smell the fragrance of plants and feel the mottled tree shadows.

Around the central courtyard is an open-air veranda, which not only links different areas but also blends the space into nature. The veranda is supported by rectangular steel pillars, which are arranged in a matrix, endowing the space with a sense of lightness and order. The restaurant floor is covered by various materials including greenery, pebbles, corrosion-resistant wooden panels and cement, to demarcate different functional spaces.

The Mountain View in Shenzhen, China – Building Information

Location: Building 6, Xiangshan Village, Xiangshan Street Community, Shahe Sub-district, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, China Design firm: Onexn Architects Chief architects: Zhang Bo, Wang Jingjing Design team: An Bingxiang, Fu Yanli, Qiu Jianhai, Zeng Ming, Wang Wanyue, Yuan Jingjing, Cai Ziying (Intern), Jiang Peichuan (Intern)

Building construction drawings: Chen Ming Interior construction drawings: Li Nanfang, Li Wenkui Structural consultant: Tang Gongmin Structural reinforcement method: bonding profile steel and anchoring stirrups Materials: self-leveling cement, weathering steel, laminated bamboo, ultra-clear glass, glass brick, white latex paint Lighting design: PUDI Design Area: 6,000 sqm Design phase: July 2017 – December 2017 Construction phase: February 2018 – September 2019

Photography: Zhang Chao, Onexn Architects

The Mountain View, Shenzhen images / information received 101220

Location: Changzhou, People’s Republic of China

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Comments / photos for The Mountain View, Shenzhen Building page welcome

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The post The Mountain View, Shenzhen appeared first on e-architect.

[architectnews]

Onexn Architects squeezes Shenzhen micro cafe into gap narrower than a parking space

Chinese studio Onexn Architects has squeezed Joys cafe into a space less than 2.6 metres wide in a street in Shenzhen, which used to house an air conditioner repair shop.

Narrower than one of the parking spaces outside, Joys serves drinks and pastries from a counter behind an entryway framed by built-in shelves and benches.

Joys cafe is just 2.6 metres wide

Seating spills out into the street outside. Inside, private office space on a mezzanine floor above the counter is accessible via a retractable ladder.

Despite its small size, Onexn Architects wanted the nine-square-metre cafe to encourage local residents to connect with each other.

The narrow cafe used to be an air conditioner repair shop

Joys is located in Xiangmi Third Village, a part of Shenzhen that was built in the 1990s. In recent years, the area has lost many of its community facilities, and its green spaces have been turned into high rise developments.

"One of the goals that we shared with our client was to restore a public node on the premise of meeting functional needs," explained the architecture studio.

"The first time we inspected the site, we found many air-conditioning parts and oil stains were scattered in front of the entrance, so people had to detour to pick up clothes from the laundry or take medicines from the pharmacy next to the repair shop," added Onexn Architects.

"There was limited space where residents could stay since the site left a mingled, neglected or blurred impression."

The eaves of the tall porch are lit up at night

To create a more welcoming entrance, Onexn Architects removed the existing lightbox and created a front with a high porch that shelters the tall glass doors that both swing open.

While the cafe is under 2.6 metres wide, the porch is almost five metres tall, making it almost twice as tall as it is wide.

Spotlights in the porch underneath the cafe sign also light up at night to attract the eye.  A narrow slit window above the door lets daylight in during the day and lights up after dark.

On the other side of the door, a ceiling installation that curves towards the apex of the room changes the dimensions of the interior space.

"It mitigates the oppressive feeling in this cramped and high space and brings a sense of mystery and ritual to it as well," said Onexn Architects.

A narrow slit window glows in the dark

Wooden box shelves are stacked in a grid-like formation either side of the door, continuing up over part of the ceiling. This design is meant to be a space-saving solution that doubles as a decorative installation that adds to the cafe experience.

At the base, boxes topped with cushions protrude from the shelves as bench seats for customers. Cupboard doors below conceal extra storage space.

Inside the cafe has a curved ceiling

The shelves frame the cafe counter, which faces towards the door. Behind, in the staff area, there are worktops, coffee machines and bakery equipment. The ladder to the office mezzanine floor can be retracted when not in use to save space.

Joys interior and exterior are covered in the same pale grey paint that resembles cement. Dark grey floor tiles continue from the inside of the cafe out over the pavement and end at the curb.

White shelves have benches and seating at the base

The white shelf and seating system has pops of colour in the form of mustard-yellow inserts. Building in such a tight gap involved negotiating with the shops either side.

"During construction, the warm-hearted neighbours would often offer us advice on design ideas," said Onexn Architects.

"We resisted initially, but gradually realised that raising opinions and keeping communication in such a symbiotic environment was significant," added the studio.

"The wall on the right side of the entrance, which we call a spontaneous design, is a cooperative achievement of the neighbours and us."

The cafe is small but makes the most of its space

Onexn Architects preserved a low flower bed on one side and the space for a community sewing machine on the other.

Founded by Bo Zhang and Jingjing Wang in 2015, Onexn Architects is based in Shenzhen.

More eateries in small spaces include this cafe and pocket park built in the space left by a building destroyed by an earthquake, and a streamlined coffee bar that features zero furniture.

Photography is by Li Jinhui.

Project credits:

Design firm: Onexn Architects Architects Chief architects: Zhang Bo, Wang Jingjing Design team: An Bingxiang, Shi Qiuyang, Guo Xiaohong Construction drawings: Li Nanfang Construction firm: Essence Atelier Engineering Lighting design: PUDI

The post Onexn Architects squeezes Shenzhen micro cafe into gap narrower than a parking space appeared first on Dezeen.

[architectnews]

Onexn Architects squeezes Shenzhen micro cafe into gap narrower than a parking space

Chinese studio Onexn Architects has squeezed Joys cafe into a space less than 2.6 metres wide in a street in Shenzhen, which used to house an air conditioner repair shop.

Narrower than one of the parking spaces outside, Joys serves drinks and pastries from a counter behind an entryway framed by built-in shelves and benches.

Joys cafe is just 2.6 metres wide

Seating spills out into the street outside. Inside, private office space on a mezzanine floor above the counter is accessible via a retractable ladder.

Despite its small size, Onexn Architects wanted the nine-square-metre cafe to encourage local residents to connect with each other.

The narrow cafe used to be an air conditioner repair shop

Joys is located in Xiangmi Third Village, a part of Shenzhen that was built in the 1990s. In recent years, the area has lost many of its community facilities, and its green spaces have been turned into high rise developments.

"One of the goals that we shared with our client was to restore a public node on the premise of meeting functional needs," explained the architecture studio.

"The first time we inspected the site, we found many air-conditioning parts and oil stains were scattered in front of the entrance, so people had to detour to pick up clothes from the laundry or take medicines from the pharmacy next to the repair shop," added Onexn Architects.

"There was limited space where residents could stay since the site left a mingled, neglected or blurred impression."

The eaves of the tall porch are lit up at night

To create a more welcoming entrance, Onexn Architects removed the existing lightbox and created a front with a high porch that shelters the tall glass doors that both swing open.

While the cafe is under 2.6 metres wide, the porch is almost five metres tall, making it almost twice as tall as it is wide.

Spotlights in the porch underneath the cafe sign also light up at night to attract the eye.  A narrow slit window above the door lets daylight in during the day and lights up after dark.

On the other side of the door, a ceiling installation that curves towards the apex of the room changes the dimensions of the interior space.

"It mitigates the oppressive feeling in this cramped and high space and brings a sense of mystery and ritual to it as well," said Onexn Architects.

A narrow slit window glows in the dark

Wooden box shelves are stacked in a grid-like formation either side of the door, continuing up over part of the ceiling. This design is meant to be a space-saving solution that doubles as a decorative installation that adds to the cafe experience.

At the base, boxes topped with cushions protrude from the shelves as bench seats for customers. Cupboard doors below conceal extra storage space.

Inside the cafe has a curved ceiling

The shelves frame the cafe counter, which faces towards the door. Behind, in the staff area, there are worktops, coffee machines and bakery equipment. The ladder to the office mezzanine floor can be retracted when not in use to save space.

Joys interior and exterior are covered in the same pale grey paint that resembles cement. Dark grey floor tiles continue from the inside of the cafe out over the pavement and end at the curb.

White shelves have benches and seating at the base

The white shelf and seating system has pops of colour in the form of mustard-yellow inserts. Building in such a tight gap involved negotiating with the shops either side.

"During construction, the warm-hearted neighbours would often offer us advice on design ideas," said Onexn Architects.

"We resisted initially, but gradually realised that raising opinions and keeping communication in such a symbiotic environment was significant," added the studio.

"The wall on the right side of the entrance, which we call a spontaneous design, is a cooperative achievement of the neighbours and us."

The cafe is small but makes the most of its space

Onexn Architects preserved a low flower bed on one side and the space for a community sewing machine on the other.

Founded by Bo Zhang and Jingjing Wang in 2015, Onexn Architects is based in Shenzhen.

More eateries in small spaces include this cafe and pocket park built in the space left by a building destroyed by an earthquake, and a streamlined coffee bar that features zero furniture.

Photography is by Li Jinhui.

Project credits:

Design firm: Onexn Architects Architects Chief architects: Zhang Bo, Wang Jingjing Design team: An Bingxiang, Shi Qiuyang, Guo Xiaohong Construction drawings: Li Nanfang Construction firm: Essence Atelier Engineering Lighting design: PUDI

The post Onexn Architects squeezes Shenzhen micro cafe into gap narrower than a parking space appeared first on Dezeen.

[architectnews]

Onexn Architects squeezes Shenzhen micro cafe into gap narrower than a parking space

Chinese studio Onexn Architects has squeezed Joys cafe into a space less than 2.6 metres wide in a street in Shenzhen, which used to house an air conditioner repair shop.

Narrower than one of the parking spaces outside, Joys serves drinks and pastries from a counter behind an entryway framed by built-in shelves and benches.

Joys cafe is just 2.6 metres wide

Seating spills out into the street outside. Inside, private office space on a mezzanine floor above the counter is accessible via a retractable ladder.

Despite its small size, Onexn Architects wanted the nine-square-metre cafe to encourage local residents to connect with each other.

The narrow cafe used to be an air conditioner repair shop

Joys is located in Xiangmi Third Village, a part of Shenzhen that was built in the 1990s. In recent years, the area has lost many of its community facilities, and its green spaces have been turned into high rise developments.

"One of the goals that we shared with our client was to restore a public node on the premise of meeting functional needs," explained the architecture studio.

"The first time we inspected the site, we found many air-conditioning parts and oil stains were scattered in front of the entrance, so people had to detour to pick up clothes from the laundry or take medicines from the pharmacy next to the repair shop," added Onexn Architects.

"There was limited space where residents could stay since the site left a mingled, neglected or blurred impression."

The eaves of the tall porch are lit up at night

To create a more welcoming entrance, Onexn Architects removed the existing lightbox and created a front with a high porch that shelters the tall glass doors that both swing open.

While the cafe is under 2.6 metres wide, the porch is almost five metres tall, making it almost twice as tall as it is wide.

Spotlights in the porch underneath the cafe sign also light up at night to attract the eye.  A narrow slit window above the door lets daylight in during the day and lights up after dark.

On the other side of the door, a ceiling installation that curves towards the apex of the room changes the dimensions of the interior space.

"It mitigates the oppressive feeling in this cramped and high space and brings a sense of mystery and ritual to it as well," said Onexn Architects.

A narrow slit window glows in the dark

Wooden box shelves are stacked in a grid-like formation either side of the door, continuing up over part of the ceiling. This design is meant to be a space-saving solution that doubles as a decorative installation that adds to the cafe experience.

At the base, boxes topped with cushions protrude from the shelves as bench seats for customers. Cupboard doors below conceal extra storage space.

Inside the cafe has a curved ceiling

The shelves frame the cafe counter, which faces towards the door. Behind, in the staff area, there are worktops, coffee machines and bakery equipment. The ladder to the office mezzanine floor can be retracted when not in use to save space.

Joys interior and exterior are covered in the same pale grey paint that resembles cement. Dark grey floor tiles continue from the inside of the cafe out over the pavement and end at the curb.

White shelves have benches and seating at the base

The white shelf and seating system has pops of colour in the form of mustard-yellow inserts. Building in such a tight gap involved negotiating with the shops either side.

"During construction, the warm-hearted neighbours would often offer us advice on design ideas," said Onexn Architects.

"We resisted initially, but gradually realised that raising opinions and keeping communication in such a symbiotic environment was significant," added the studio.

"The wall on the right side of the entrance, which we call a spontaneous design, is a cooperative achievement of the neighbours and us."

The cafe is small but makes the most of its space

Onexn Architects preserved a low flower bed on one side and the space for a community sewing machine on the other.

Founded by Bo Zhang and Jingjing Wang in 2015, Onexn Architects is based in Shenzhen.

More eateries in small spaces include this cafe and pocket park built in the space left by a building destroyed by an earthquake, and a streamlined coffee bar that features zero furniture.

Photography is by Li Jinhui.

Project credits:

Design firm: Onexn Architects Architects Chief architects: Zhang Bo, Wang Jingjing Design team: An Bingxiang, Shi Qiuyang, Guo Xiaohong Construction drawings: Li Nanfang Construction firm: Essence Atelier Engineering Lighting design: PUDI

The post Onexn Architects squeezes Shenzhen micro cafe into gap narrower than a parking space appeared first on Dezeen.

[architectnews]

Onexn Architects squeezes Shenzhen micro cafe into gap narrower than a parking space

Chinese studio Onexn Architects has squeezed Joys cafe into a space less than 2.6 metres wide in a street in Shenzhen, which used to house an air conditioner repair shop.

Narrower than one of the parking spaces outside, Joys serves drinks and pastries from a counter behind an entryway framed by built-in shelves and benches.

Joys cafe is just 2.6 metres wide

Seating spills out into the street outside. Inside, private office space on a mezzanine floor above the counter is accessible via a retractable ladder.

Despite its small size, Onexn Architects wanted the nine-square-metre cafe to encourage local residents to connect with each other.

The narrow cafe used to be an air conditioner repair shop

Joys is located in Xiangmi Third Village, a part of Shenzhen that was built in the 1990s. In recent years, the area has lost many of its community facilities, and its green spaces have been turned into high rise developments.

"One of the goals that we shared with our client was to restore a public node on the premise of meeting functional needs," explained the architecture studio.

"The first time we inspected the site, we found many air-conditioning parts and oil stains were scattered in front of the entrance, so people had to detour to pick up clothes from the laundry or take medicines from the pharmacy next to the repair shop," added Onexn Architects.

"There was limited space where residents could stay since the site left a mingled, neglected or blurred impression."

The eaves of the tall porch are lit up at night

To create a more welcoming entrance, Onexn Architects removed the existing lightbox and created a front with a high porch that shelters the tall glass doors that both swing open.

While the cafe is under 2.6 metres wide, the porch is almost five metres tall, making it almost twice as tall as it is wide.

Spotlights in the porch underneath the cafe sign also light up at night to attract the eye.  A narrow slit window above the door lets daylight in during the day and lights up after dark.

On the other side of the door, a ceiling installation that curves towards the apex of the room changes the dimensions of the interior space.

"It mitigates the oppressive feeling in this cramped and high space and brings a sense of mystery and ritual to it as well," said Onexn Architects.

A narrow slit window glows in the dark

Wooden box shelves are stacked in a grid-like formation either side of the door, continuing up over part of the ceiling. This design is meant to be a space-saving solution that doubles as a decorative installation that adds to the cafe experience.

At the base, boxes topped with cushions protrude from the shelves as bench seats for customers. Cupboard doors below conceal extra storage space.

Inside the cafe has a curved ceiling

The shelves frame the cafe counter, which faces towards the door. Behind, in the staff area, there are worktops, coffee machines and bakery equipment. The ladder to the office mezzanine floor can be retracted when not in use to save space.

Joys interior and exterior are covered in the same pale grey paint that resembles cement. Dark grey floor tiles continue from the inside of the cafe out over the pavement and end at the curb.

White shelves have benches and seating at the base

The white shelf and seating system has pops of colour in the form of mustard-yellow inserts. Building in such a tight gap involved negotiating with the shops either side.

"During construction, the warm-hearted neighbours would often offer us advice on design ideas," said Onexn Architects.

"We resisted initially, but gradually realised that raising opinions and keeping communication in such a symbiotic environment was significant," added the studio.

"The wall on the right side of the entrance, which we call a spontaneous design, is a cooperative achievement of the neighbours and us."

The cafe is small but makes the most of its space

Onexn Architects preserved a low flower bed on one side and the space for a community sewing machine on the other.

Founded by Bo Zhang and Jingjing Wang in 2015, Onexn Architects is based in Shenzhen.

More eateries in small spaces include this cafe and pocket park built in the space left by a building destroyed by an earthquake, and a streamlined coffee bar that features zero furniture.

Photography is by Li Jinhui.

Project credits:

Design firm: Onexn Architects Architects Chief architects: Zhang Bo, Wang Jingjing Design team: An Bingxiang, Shi Qiuyang, Guo Xiaohong Construction drawings: Li Nanfang Construction firm: Essence Atelier Engineering Lighting design: PUDI

The post Onexn Architects squeezes Shenzhen micro cafe into gap narrower than a parking space appeared first on Dezeen.

[architectnews]

Onexn Architects squeezes Shenzhen micro cafe into gap narrower than a parking space

Chinese studio Onexn Architects has squeezed Joys cafe into a space less than 2.6 metres wide in a street in Shenzhen, which used to house an air conditioner repair shop.

Narrower than one of the parking spaces outside, Joys serves drinks and pastries from a counter behind an entryway framed by built-in shelves and benches.

Joys cafe is just 2.6 metres wide

Seating spills out into the street outside. Inside, private office space on a mezzanine floor above the counter is accessible via a retractable ladder.

Despite its small size, Onexn Architects wanted the nine-square-metre cafe to encourage local residents to connect with each other.

The narrow cafe used to be an air conditioner repair shop

Joys is located in Xiangmi Third Village, a part of Shenzhen that was built in the 1990s. In recent years, the area has lost many of its community facilities, and its green spaces have been turned into high rise developments.

"One of the goals that we shared with our client was to restore a public node on the premise of meeting functional needs," explained the architecture studio.

"The first time we inspected the site, we found many air-conditioning parts and oil stains were scattered in front of the entrance, so people had to detour to pick up clothes from the laundry or take medicines from the pharmacy next to the repair shop," added Onexn Architects.

"There was limited space where residents could stay since the site left a mingled, neglected or blurred impression."

The eaves of the tall porch are lit up at night

To create a more welcoming entrance, Onexn Architects removed the existing lightbox and created a front with a high porch that shelters the tall glass doors that both swing open.

While the cafe is under 2.6 metres wide, the porch is almost five metres tall, making it almost twice as tall as it is wide.

Spotlights in the porch underneath the cafe sign also light up at night to attract the eye.  A narrow slit window above the door lets daylight in during the day and lights up after dark.

On the other side of the door, a ceiling installation that curves towards the apex of the room changes the dimensions of the interior space.

"It mitigates the oppressive feeling in this cramped and high space and brings a sense of mystery and ritual to it as well," said Onexn Architects.

A narrow slit window glows in the dark

Wooden box shelves are stacked in a grid-like formation either side of the door, continuing up over part of the ceiling. This design is meant to be a space-saving solution that doubles as a decorative installation that adds to the cafe experience.

At the base, boxes topped with cushions protrude from the shelves as bench seats for customers. Cupboard doors below conceal extra storage space.

Inside the cafe has a curved ceiling

The shelves frame the cafe counter, which faces towards the door. Behind, in the staff area, there are worktops, coffee machines and bakery equipment. The ladder to the office mezzanine floor can be retracted when not in use to save space.

Joys interior and exterior are covered in the same pale grey paint that resembles cement. Dark grey floor tiles continue from the inside of the cafe out over the pavement and end at the curb.

White shelves have benches and seating at the base

The white shelf and seating system has pops of colour in the form of mustard-yellow inserts. Building in such a tight gap involved negotiating with the shops either side.

"During construction, the warm-hearted neighbours would often offer us advice on design ideas," said Onexn Architects.

"We resisted initially, but gradually realised that raising opinions and keeping communication in such a symbiotic environment was significant," added the studio.

"The wall on the right side of the entrance, which we call a spontaneous design, is a cooperative achievement of the neighbours and us."

The cafe is small but makes the most of its space

Onexn Architects preserved a low flower bed on one side and the space for a community sewing machine on the other.

Founded by Bo Zhang and Jingjing Wang in 2015, Onexn Architects is based in Shenzhen.

More eateries in small spaces include this cafe and pocket park built in the space left by a building destroyed by an earthquake, and a streamlined coffee bar that features zero furniture.

Photography is by Li Jinhui.

Project credits:

Design firm: Onexn Architects Architects Chief architects: Zhang Bo, Wang Jingjing Design team: An Bingxiang, Shi Qiuyang, Guo Xiaohong Construction drawings: Li Nanfang Construction firm: Essence Atelier Engineering Lighting design: PUDI

The post Onexn Architects squeezes Shenzhen micro cafe into gap narrower than a parking space appeared first on Dezeen.

[architectnews]

Onexn Architects squeezes Shenzhen micro cafe into gap narrower than a parking space

Chinese studio Onexn Architects has squeezed Joys cafe into a space less than 2.6 metres wide in a street in Shenzhen, which used to house an air conditioner repair shop.

Narrower than one of the parking spaces outside, Joys serves drinks and pastries from a counter behind an entryway framed by built-in shelves and benches.

Joys cafe is just 2.6 metres wide

Seating spills out into the street outside. Inside, private office space on a mezzanine floor above the counter is accessible via a retractable ladder.

Despite its small size, Onexn Architects wanted the nine-square-metre cafe to encourage local residents to connect with each other.

The narrow cafe used to be an air conditioner repair shop

Joys is located in Xiangmi Third Village, a part of Shenzhen that was built in the 1990s. In recent years, the area has lost many of its community facilities, and its green spaces have been turned into high rise developments.

"One of the goals that we shared with our client was to restore a public node on the premise of meeting functional needs," explained the architecture studio.

"The first time we inspected the site, we found many air-conditioning parts and oil stains were scattered in front of the entrance, so people had to detour to pick up clothes from the laundry or take medicines from the pharmacy next to the repair shop," added Onexn Architects.

"There was limited space where residents could stay since the site left a mingled, neglected or blurred impression."

The eaves of the tall porch are lit up at night

To create a more welcoming entrance, Onexn Architects removed the existing lightbox and created a front with a high porch that shelters the tall glass doors that both swing open.

While the cafe is under 2.6 metres wide, the porch is almost five metres tall, making it almost twice as tall as it is wide.

Spotlights in the porch underneath the cafe sign also light up at night to attract the eye.  A narrow slit window above the door lets daylight in during the day and lights up after dark.

On the other side of the door, a ceiling installation that curves towards the apex of the room changes the dimensions of the interior space.

"It mitigates the oppressive feeling in this cramped and high space and brings a sense of mystery and ritual to it as well," said Onexn Architects.

A narrow slit window glows in the dark

Wooden box shelves are stacked in a grid-like formation either side of the door, continuing up over part of the ceiling. This design is meant to be a space-saving solution that doubles as a decorative installation that adds to the cafe experience.

At the base, boxes topped with cushions protrude from the shelves as bench seats for customers. Cupboard doors below conceal extra storage space.

Inside the cafe has a curved ceiling

The shelves frame the cafe counter, which faces towards the door. Behind, in the staff area, there are worktops, coffee machines and bakery equipment. The ladder to the office mezzanine floor can be retracted when not in use to save space.

Joys interior and exterior are covered in the same pale grey paint that resembles cement. Dark grey floor tiles continue from the inside of the cafe out over the pavement and end at the curb.

White shelves have benches and seating at the base

The white shelf and seating system has pops of colour in the form of mustard-yellow inserts. Building in such a tight gap involved negotiating with the shops either side.

"During construction, the warm-hearted neighbours would often offer us advice on design ideas," said Onexn Architects.

"We resisted initially, but gradually realised that raising opinions and keeping communication in such a symbiotic environment was significant," added the studio.

"The wall on the right side of the entrance, which we call a spontaneous design, is a cooperative achievement of the neighbours and us."

The cafe is small but makes the most of its space

Onexn Architects preserved a low flower bed on one side and the space for a community sewing machine on the other.

Founded by Bo Zhang and Jingjing Wang in 2015, Onexn Architects is based in Shenzhen.

More eateries in small spaces include this cafe and pocket park built in the space left by a building destroyed by an earthquake, and a streamlined coffee bar that features zero furniture.

Photography is by Li Jinhui.

Project credits:

Design firm: Onexn Architects Architects Chief architects: Zhang Bo, Wang Jingjing Design team: An Bingxiang, Shi Qiuyang, Guo Xiaohong Construction drawings: Li Nanfang Construction firm: Essence Atelier Engineering Lighting design: PUDI

The post Onexn Architects squeezes Shenzhen micro cafe into gap narrower than a parking space appeared first on Dezeen.

[architectnews]

Onexn Architects squeezes Shenzhen micro cafe into gap narrower than a parking space

Chinese studio Onexn Architects has squeezed Joys cafe into a space less than 2.6 metres wide in a street in Shenzhen, which used to house an air conditioner repair shop.

Narrower than one of the parking spaces outside, Joys serves drinks and pastries from a counter behind an entryway framed by built-in shelves and benches.

Joys cafe is just 2.6 metres wide

Seating spills out into the street outside. Inside, private office space on a mezzanine floor above the counter is accessible via a retractable ladder.

Despite its small size, Onexn Architects wanted the nine-square-metre cafe to encourage local residents to connect with each other.

The narrow cafe used to be an air conditioner repair shop

Joys is located in Xiangmi Third Village, a part of Shenzhen that was built in the 1990s. In recent years, the area has lost many of its community facilities, and its green spaces have been turned into high rise developments.

"One of the goals that we shared with our client was to restore a public node on the premise of meeting functional needs," explained the architecture studio.

"The first time we inspected the site, we found many air-conditioning parts and oil stains were scattered in front of the entrance, so people had to detour to pick up clothes from the laundry or take medicines from the pharmacy next to the repair shop," added Onexn Architects.

"There was limited space where residents could stay since the site left a mingled, neglected or blurred impression."

The eaves of the tall porch are lit up at night

To create a more welcoming entrance, Onexn Architects removed the existing lightbox and created a front with a high porch that shelters the tall glass doors that both swing open.

While the cafe is under 2.6 metres wide, the porch is almost five metres tall, making it almost twice as tall as it is wide.

Spotlights in the porch underneath the cafe sign also light up at night to attract the eye.  A narrow slit window above the door lets daylight in during the day and lights up after dark.

On the other side of the door, a ceiling installation that curves towards the apex of the room changes the dimensions of the interior space.

"It mitigates the oppressive feeling in this cramped and high space and brings a sense of mystery and ritual to it as well," said Onexn Architects.

A narrow slit window glows in the dark

Wooden box shelves are stacked in a grid-like formation either side of the door, continuing up over part of the ceiling. This design is meant to be a space-saving solution that doubles as a decorative installation that adds to the cafe experience.

At the base, boxes topped with cushions protrude from the shelves as bench seats for customers. Cupboard doors below conceal extra storage space.

Inside the cafe has a curved ceiling

The shelves frame the cafe counter, which faces towards the door. Behind, in the staff area, there are worktops, coffee machines and bakery equipment. The ladder to the office mezzanine floor can be retracted when not in use to save space.

Joys interior and exterior are covered in the same pale grey paint that resembles cement. Dark grey floor tiles continue from the inside of the cafe out over the pavement and end at the curb.

White shelves have benches and seating at the base

The white shelf and seating system has pops of colour in the form of mustard-yellow inserts. Building in such a tight gap involved negotiating with the shops either side.

"During construction, the warm-hearted neighbours would often offer us advice on design ideas," said Onexn Architects.

"We resisted initially, but gradually realised that raising opinions and keeping communication in such a symbiotic environment was significant," added the studio.

"The wall on the right side of the entrance, which we call a spontaneous design, is a cooperative achievement of the neighbours and us."

The cafe is small but makes the most of its space

Onexn Architects preserved a low flower bed on one side and the space for a community sewing machine on the other.

Founded by Bo Zhang and Jingjing Wang in 2015, Onexn Architects is based in Shenzhen.

More eateries in small spaces include this cafe and pocket park built in the space left by a building destroyed by an earthquake, and a streamlined coffee bar that features zero furniture.

Photography is by Li Jinhui.

Project credits:

Design firm: Onexn Architects Architects Chief architects: Zhang Bo, Wang Jingjing Design team: An Bingxiang, Shi Qiuyang, Guo Xiaohong Construction drawings: Li Nanfang Construction firm: Essence Atelier Engineering Lighting design: PUDI

The post Onexn Architects squeezes Shenzhen micro cafe into gap narrower than a parking space appeared first on Dezeen.