HAD Architects and EPOS have completed a new coffee combining wooden staircase with a bookshelf in the city of Chengdu, China. Named Daodao Coffee, the two-storey coffee occupies a 65-square-metre space. The designers created a space where they could drink their coffee and read a book and relax while watching the city from inside. 

Located in the center of Intime City commercial district in Chengdu, the Daodao Coffee serves diverse needs of customers and creates alternative space with integration of material and light. 

Mental space division is used instead of physical space division to meet the need of bearing multiple activities and avoiding interrelationship. So we chose the furniture up to the requirements to define the space.  

Woods with warm colors can create a natural and comfortable atmosphere; overlapping dark metal punched panels play a role of rail to partly shield the space and keep the privacy. 

These two factors distill a concept - the combination of emotions and reasons in the city. Relatively speaking, the first floor is an open area to provide a place for those tired shoppers to have an afternoon tea and chat with others to chill out.

The external bar is designed for those who are waiting for their companions. Sitting at the bar, customers can enjoy the general view of the square. What’s more, the entrance of Intime city commercial district is quite close to the bar. 

A self-service desk is set on the second floor to supply lemonade and various ingredients for free, which naturally forms a quiet working space and a small meeting space.

"There is always someone who prefers to sit in the corner. We took this into consideration and designed a crossover. In addition, the ground was lifted a little bit to compress the height and produce a stronger sense of closure. And at the same time, a cozier height is made for the first floor," said the architects. 

Project facts

Design institution: HAD Architects & EPOS

Location: Intime City, Chengdu, China

Chief designer: Zhou Yonggang

Decoration Designer: Ningxia

Area: 65m2

Year of the project: 2017

All images © Arch-exist Photography

> via HAD Architects & EPOS