The original concept of this project stems entirely from the founder's personal experience and spiritual insight gained during the pilgrimage of Mount Kailash's kora. In his view, the pilgrimage is not merely a physical journey across geographical space, but a complete inner ritual—a rhythm of life composed of four stages: departure, walking, resting, and returning.
The founder hopes to "transplant" these four spiritual stages from the snowy plateau into the urban commercial context of Suzhou MixC World. Using a comprehensive cycling store as the vehicle, he wants every visitor—whether or not they have actually been to Mount Kailash—to unconsciously experience a miniature kora (pilgrimage circuit) through the simple acts of wheeling their bike through the door, sitting down for a cup of coffee, taking a short break with their pet, picking out some gear, and then leaving.
As designers, the core task we received was not to pile up symbols, but to transform "departure — walking — resting — returning" into a spatial sequence, material tactility, changes in the lighting environment, and circulation rhythm. This led to the project's circular layout (departure as the entrance, walking as the circular exhibition area, resting as the coffee and pet zone, and returning as the checkout and outdoor pet-friendly seating area); the light and shadow transitions from hard metal to soft fabric, and from high-illuminance display areas to low-illuminance resting zones; and finally, the pet-friendly system that incorporates pets as "travel companions" along every segment of the journey.
As one of the core functional zones of the entire space, the dedicated pet activity area is designed with the goals of being "safe, free, and comfortable." The facilities are arranged to be both practical and user friendly. A pet water station is provided to meet pets' hydration needs at any time. Adjustable pet resting mats accommodate pets of different sizes; the mats are made of soft, scratch resistant, eco friendly fabrics to enhance pet comfort. In a corner of the area, a waste bag dispenser and a pet waste collection bin are placed, along with disposable gloves, taking into account both public hygiene and ease of use. This truly achieves the core pet friendly goal: "pets allowed, owners at ease, management convenient." At the same time, the atmosphere of the area is created in line with the concept of a human pet interactive space. Soft fencing and simple greenery embellishments are used to both define the pet activity range and convey a natural, warm spatial ambience, allowing pets to feel comfortable and at ease while moving freely.
As the "resting core" of the space, the coffee lounge area corresponds to the tranquil repose of "resting" in the spirit of the kora (pilgrimage), providing users with a dedicated space for relaxation, comfort, and social interaction. The area adopts a simple, warm design tone with soft, low saturation color palettes that echo the gentle texture of coffee and the concept of returning to authenticity embodied by "Feichi Space," conveying a quiet and comfortable resting atmosphere. In terms of functional layout, the area includes an ordering zone, a dine in zone, and an outdoor seating zone. Within the dine in zone, some seats are reserved near the pet activity area, separated by transparent glass partitions that ensure visual connection between owners and their pets while maintaining spatial privacy. The outdoor seating zone features an open design with lounge chairs that can accommodate pets, allowing owners to enjoy outdoor coffee time together with their pets. The lighting design uses soft, diffused light sources to avoid harsh stimulation to both pets and humans, further enhancing the serene atmosphere of the resting area.
As the core hub of the entire space, the central installation area runs through the pet activity zone and the coffee lounge area, serving as a key medium that connects all functional zones and ties together the entire journey of the kora spirit—"departure, walking, resting, and returning." It is both decorative, functional, and spiritual, reinforcing the overall spatial coherence while conveying the core design concept of "Huishu Space" (the Space of Returning). The overall form abstractly translates the image of Mount Kailash, aligning with the kora spirit and the brand philosophy of Cyclesure. The structure adopts a layered composition of "lightbox + LED screens": four LED screens form the central core, with lightboxes above and below displaying Cyclesure's brand culture. On the ground, a polygonal, irregularly shaped休闲 seat made of textured paint and stone materials is installed, creating a composite installation that integrates artistic sensibility, technological flair, brand identity, and practicality. The four LED screens can display the brand logo, brand philosophy, core values, and brand visuals related to coffee, pets, and cycling, thereby reinforcing brand recognition and cultural communication.
As the "spiritual symbol carrier" of the space, the bicycle display area deeply resonates with the exploration and freedom of "departure" in the spirit of the kora (pilgrimage). It is a concentrated presentation of cycling culture and lifestyle aesthetics, while also serving as an important link connecting the cycling supply zone and the coffee lounge area, enhancing the overall atmosphere and functionality of the space. The area adopts an open layout, avoiding excessive decoration to highlight the design and craftsmanship of the bicycles themselves, while integrating the natural texture of the overall space to create a scene that is both display oriented and interactive. In terms of display forms, a combination of wall mounted racks and floor standing platforms is used. Bicycles are zoned and displayed according to type (such as urban commuter bikes, leisure riding bikes, and pet friendly bikes), making it easy for users to browse and choose intuitively. The display racks are made of eco friendly materials combining natural wood and metal, maintaining consistency with the overall spatial style.
As the "warm replenishment station" of the space, the pet snacks retail area connects the pet activity zone and the coffee lounge zone, enhancing spatial coherence and functionality. The area features a compact and delicate open counter design that remains consistent with the warm tone of the overall space. The counter is made of natural wood and matte metal, with sharp edges avoided to ensure the safety of both pets and users. The counter height accommodates both adult operation and child interaction, while a low-level display area accessible to pets is reserved to increase interactive fun.
Each functional area fulfills its own role while coexisting in synergy, providing pets with a safe, comfortable, and free activity space, while also offering people a quality platform for relaxation, social interaction, and companionship. At the same time, through the bicycle display and pet snack retail functions, it enriches the cultural depth and commercial value of the space, conveying a life attitude of "effortless companionship, love for life, and a return to authenticity."
At the same time, the design deeply integrates with the spatial characteristics of Gusu MixC World, promoting a deep fusion of the pet-friendly concept with commercial spaces and leisure scenarios. It enriches the functional value and emotional depth of the space, creating a highly recognizable and evocative pet-friendly space that carries the founder's spiritual pursuit. This allows more people to experience the life aesthetics and spiritual power of "departure — walking — resting — returning" in their daily leisure activities.