The 3-month pop-up cafe is located in a gutted, soon-to-be-demolished building. Using deconstruction as method, basic building materials are applied to meld with the original rough-looking environment of impending demolition. Not only is the result time- and cost-efficient, the sustainable materials and repurposed space also offer an example of urban regeneration.

Client Coffee Law aimed to connect the act of having coffee with the urban regeneration exhibition. They worked with Lienyu Group to exploit the idle building before demolition, all while contributing to the local community. The outcome is supposed to demonstrate the transitional phase of the urban regeneration project, so crystallization was chosen as a visual prototype. The angles created by the small steel units, the cold, agile look of the light fixtures, and the reflections off various materials, all draw association with the cold and short-lived image of the snowflake.

The choice of recyclable steel units is inspired by the deconstruction of the space. It amplifies the exposed structure, demonstrates versatility, and aims to realize a sustainable circular economy.

The patched cement walls and exposed steel and bricks belie the construction of the site. The intervening project aims to fit into the landscape, and gives rise to a flow with the building and the exhibition. Materials like the steel counter, cement walls, and light tubes were chosen to present a cold, rough texture. Hazard tape divides the space, reminds patrons of the temporary nature of the project, and provided inspiration for one of the brand’s signature products.

Sharp angles, reflective surfaces, and an ice-like brushed steel countertop suggest crystallization, representing the city’s vitality during the transitional phase, like the calm and self-restrained tension felt at the end of an era. The tone also resonates with the cafe brand’s “fast and fashionable” marketing character.

In keeping with the efficient use of resources and being easy to take apart afterwards, the project is constructed through assembling units, allowing the builder to control the process efficiently and align with the client’s expectation of the short 136-day project duration. The materials can later be repurposed for further sustainable urban development projects.

Everything changes, including cities. The key point is our perspective on those changes. This project replaces desertion with proactivity, and transforms an idle building into a cafe and an exhibition venue, injecting vitality into the site with mottled cement and cracked bricks. May the space serve the local community, and spread the message of urban regeneration.