Rootdown is a café/bar located in the newly dubbed Art Lane area of Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong. The venue is designed to pay homage to the owner’s American heritage, drawing inspiration from midcentury American homes through the use of wood paneling, and making subtle references to American farms with its large doors. The interior design simplifies these traditional references and pairs them with modern touches like metallic accents, recessed lighting, and a custom terrazzo floor pour, giving the café/bar a contemporary yet cozy ambiance.

The location of Rootdown is unique, nestled along a sloping, pedestrian-only walkway and adjacent to a park. Despite the relatively small footprint of the site, we managed to seamlessly integrate the surrounding environment into our design. We installed dynamic paneled doors that can be adjusted to various positions, allowing the space to transform according to the needs of the day or the season. During the hotter summer months, the doors can be fully closed to keep the interior cool and comfortable. On milder days, the doors can be completely tucked away to open up the café to the park and pathway, effectively extending the seating area into the outdoors and creating a vibrant, communal atmosphere. Additionally, the doors can be angled to provide seating along the sloping site line while allowing a refreshing breeze to flow through during cooler months.

The café/bar is situated on the ground floor of a mixed-use tower, which presented both challenges and opportunities in our design. One of the central features of the interior is a simulated skylight, designed to mimic the changing colors of the sky throughout the day. This skylight is encased in a circular frame and recessed into the ceiling to deceptively enhance the effect of natural lighting within the space. The faux ceiling is sloped downward, enhancing the perceived spaciousness of the venue while also providing a clever solution for recessing all the feature lighting. The temperature of all lighting in the space is adjustable, which is crucial for transitioning the atmosphere from a welcoming café during the day to a cozy, intimate bar in the evening. The slope of the ceiling also helps to highlight the bar area, which features a glass case that serves a dual purpose: displaying baked goods during café hours and functioning as a bar top at night.

From the approach, customers are greeted with a unique facade that is simple and understated when the doors are fully closed, yet warm and inviting when open. The wooden panels are framed with an off-white brick-patterned version of the floor’s terrazzo. To the far left, a large glass sliding door serves as the main entrance, while above, a set of hanging metallic mesh diffuses the linear lighting along the entrance. These elements, combined with the wooden panels, seamlessly bring the interior design elements to the facade, creating a harmonious design.