Franchise
Café Delight: Zolaism Café/ B.L.U.E. Architecture Studio
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Architects: B.L.U.E. Architecture Studio
- Area : 170 m²
- Year : 2021
Zolaism, a new Chinese-style dessert brand, recently opened its new store in Aranya, Qinhuangdao, a popular seaside resort community located 3-4 hours’ drive from Beijing. The store is an addition to the north side of the original cinema building, facing the main road with a wide field of view. The brand philosophy, inspired by the natural beauty of mountains and seas, drove the design of the store, respecting the spirit of the site and continuing the brand’s spirit.
The café’s design revolves around nature and emotion. Zolaism aims to be a spiritual place for people to escape the rhythm of urban life and return to their true nature. Spaces that connect people emotionally with objects and spaces are essential to provide relaxation and freedom. Thus, the sense of experience and spirituality became the core of the design.
The café’s open plaza features rocks of natural form scattered in between and supporting a large eave. The architecture has three sides of glass curtain wall enclosures, forming a space that integrates the interior and exterior. The organic form of the stones plays the role of hidden steel column structure, and also divides functional areas. The largest rocks have private resting rooms, and the scattered seatings spread freely throughout the spaces between the mountain rocks.
The stone shapes were created by GRC pouring and have a coarse and heavy texture that forms a strong visual contrast with the surrounding ultra-clear glass. The frameless full-height glass curtain walls introduce plenty of sunlight into the indoor space, providing a feeling of resting in nature.
The design and construction process of the café were unconventional, starting with handmade models and clay sculptures to study the composition of architectural space. With the guidance of perceptual experience and adhoc judgment, the designers gradually refined the design to a more mature scheme.
Zolaism’s café offers a unique and emotionally connecting space in a seaside resort community like Aranya, away from the noise of the cities, where people can rest their bodies and spirits.
