Innovation: The Return of an Old Wooden Boat Aligns with Saturnbird’s Coffee Can Recycling Program

The most groundbreaking aspect of this project lies in extending the brand’s "Return Voyage" concept from products to spatial design. Since 2019, we have collaborated with Saturnbird to explore the application of recycled materials in architecture and interiors. Beyond continuing the use of coffee grounds—a material first introduced in the "Original Force Concept Store" on Anfu Road four years ago—this design incorporates a reclaimed wooden boat sourced from Zhuhai. The boat was disassembled, and its repurposed planks were systematically numbered, reorganized, and distributed throughout the Saturnbird space according to functional needs. This tangible embodiment of "Return Voyage" resonates deeply with Saturnbird’s longstanding coffee can recycling initiative. Thus, an old wooden boat finds new life at a street corner in the city.

Creativity: Integration of Space and Furniture
The greatest creative achievement is the unified expression of space through consistent materiality and joint design in both architecture and movable furniture. Beyond visual harmony in color tones, we aimed to convey a cohesive material language—texture and warmth—from the spatial framework down to mobile furnishings. Moreover, the "joints" philosophy refined over nine years of Bare Brick’s practice is not only applied to the architecture but also adapted flexibly in modular furniture design, constructing a holistic design language system.

Functionality: Urban/Event Space + Flexible Seating/Product Display/Material Exhibition/3D Printing
Functionality is addressed at both urban and interior levels.
Facing the street, we preserved an open area as a restful pocket garden, while the recessed entrance creates an "urban living room," ceding space to the sidewalk and extending the shop’s community engagement.
The interior spans two floors: the ground level houses retail and coffee preparation, while the upper floor accommodates events, "Return Voyage" exhibitions, and 3D printing using recycled materials. Lightweight, stackable mobile furniture fills the space, allowing versatile arrangements to suit diverse scenarios.

Sustainability: Multi-Recycled Materials—Old Boat Wood/Coffee Ground Panels
Sustainability manifests in two ways: the shop’s symbiotic relationship with the streetscape and the recycled materials themselves.
The garden and set-back entrance blur indoor-outdoor boundaries, fostering a sustainable coexistence with the historic Yuyuan Road neighborhood—transforming the space into both a commercial hub and a community asset. Material sustainability is equally pivotal: deconstructed and reassembled boat wood, composite panels of coffee grounds and reclaimed timber, and coffee cans embedded into brick walls for the façade. Recycling is merely the first step; integrating these materials into a unified design that aligns with the brand’s ethos ensures their longevity.