Located in the campus of Soochow University, the site is tranquil and steeped in antiquity, shaded by lush greenery, with blue brick and grey tiles that embody the scholarly atmosphere and patina of time unique to this century-old institution. Our design brings this distinctive cultural richness into the interior space, using Eastern elements aligned with the brand identity and visual language drawn from Chinese herbal medicine to shape a nourishing and vibrant ambiance.
Within the compact interior, we have mapped out a circulating pathway that organizes the beverage bar and retail area through seating clusters at varying heights and orientations, creating a business flow that ensures operational efficiency while offering just the right scale for both solitude and small gatherings. The original window opening in the old building’s corridor has been reactivated as framed view that engages with the outside, allowing guests to sit by the window and enjoy layers of verdant scenery.
The green space in front of the building serves as an outdoor seating area. While preserving the existing trees and vegetation, we have interspersed staggered wooden decks, lightly intervening in nature. Paths extending from various directions break the formal regularity of the traditional campus greensward, guiding foot traffic freely while injecting a light, contemporary vitality into this serene greenery that has lain quiet for years.