Shenzhen-based architecture practice Onexn Architects has completed an experimental beverage store in HaiYa Mega Mall, Bao’an District, Shenzhen, China. 

Called Peak Tea, the 90-square-metre indoor store forms a landscape that blends the indoor with the outdoor area. As such a drawer concept retail is built within such large business volumes, the comparison between the beverage store and the mall, somehow forms a relatively unitary parasitic and contrasting relationship. 

"We hope to break through the traditional mode of retail chains and create an experimental beverage store," said the client, which deeply moved us as we first met. 

Regarding the project, the space includes an approximately 90㎡ indoor area and an approximately 100-square-metre outdoor area, it was extremely challenged especially for the outdoor implementation, however, it is the challenge this space brought that inspires and sparks our imagination, which allows us to set sights on a bigger perspective, to see the indoor and the outdoor space as a whole, instead of as separate areas.

Run into Naturalism Romance

The studio wanted to create a landscape space that blends the indoor with the outdoor area. The inside space will work as a support for the function of the shop, while the outside space will serve as a public stage, providing both landscape and exhibition function. 

"We try to find a rhythm of slow and peace in such a fast-paced city," said the architects. 

Turn Restricted Condition into Positive Thinking

Before the studio's renovation, the original site was placed with potted plants and flags which were designed to separate the pedestrian and vehicles. Unfortunately, such public space does not appeal the pedestrian to stop for a while, this is a typical street section in China, safe but lack of vitality. 

The studio's design process was full of complications, from the stage version proposal approved by the client to the revised urban furniture version proposal requested by the fire department, under the restrictions of standard, usage, budget, timeline and various factors, the architects continued thinking and exploring our way out.

Exhibit Spatial Experience for User

"We hope that the design of this group of furniture can be served as the supporting background to different activities and functions such as culinary experience, art exhibition, city jungle and etc. In order to have people experience the subtle changes between the space and themselves, the configuration is simply arranged by several rectangle structures but in different scales."

"The overlapping lines of the structures enframe a series of scenery, having the users themselves become the main character in the scenery, we hope to create and visualize the spatial experience for them."

Façade Design is the Expression of Seeing and Being Seen

The inspiration of the façade design comes from Edward Hopper’s masterpiece Nighthawks. The realistic painting depicts an all-night diner where three customers, all lost in their own thoughts, are close yet distance from each other. The depiction of the characters is so accurate and vivid that arouses us a philosophic thought on human isolation, the architects therefore hope to bring the sense of alienation back to an appropriate scale through such a store. 

A large plate of glass is a symbol of technological revolution, on the contrary, the team wants to achieve an experience of seeing and being seen through the fragmented façade. 

Concise Feeling from Inward Stretched Façade

The interior design is the process of simplified and purified the façade. Apart from utility function, all the details are created to serve the purpose of making people feel comfortable. 

As the base color in the space, white is used for constructing the spatial structure, wood veneer is used for decorating the seat area and the color gray, somehow appropriately adorns the front desk and seat area that has the service function.

Street before renovation 

Structure of indoor and outdoor before renovation

Design strategy

Plan of stage version

Concept plan of city furniture

Study of furniture types

City furniture with compound functions

Plane graph of wall

Plane graph of wall

Plan after renovation

Project facts

Project Name: Peak Tea

Project Location: HaiYa Mega Mall, Bao’an District, Shenzhen

Design Team: Onexn Architects 

Principal Architect: Bo Zhang, Jingjing Wang

Team Member: Bingxiang An, Ming Zeng, Ziying Cai

Construction Drawing: Nanfang Li

Execution of Construction: Yulin Le

Lighting: Pudi Design

Project Scale: 90 m2 Indoor Space, 100 m2 Outdoor Landscape 

All images © Chao Zhang

All drawings © Onexn Architects 

> via Onexn Architects