The facade design of Little B, a Beast and Sisters store located in Beijing’s Sanlitun Taikoo Lane, draws inspiration from the abstract paintings of American artist Josef Albers. By extracting the expressive forms from his works and exploring the subtle interplay between color and shape, the design channels the visual language of Hard Edge art. Utilizing a layered structural approach, each tier expresses distinct personalities and avant-garde attitudes. The elements and blocks blur the lines between graphics and backgrounds, creating an abstract visual composition.
▲ Exterior Facade Structural Drawing
The first floor’s exterior features a smooth yet strong gradient that transitions from purple to pink, finally blending into Little B’s signature ginger yellow. This gradual color progression connects the two sister stores while distinguishing their individual brands, resulting in a unified facade rich with layered depth and visual hierarchy.
▲ Photography: Lin Shanying & Wang Hongbin
▲ Photography: Lin Shanying & Wang Hongbin
▲ Photography: Lin Shanying & Wang Hongbin
Combined with carefully designed lighting, the entire facade appears as a glowing box suspended in mid-air, becoming the visual highlight of the street. The layered yellow glass offers a spatial reinterpretation of Hard Edge art principles.
▲ Photography: Lin Shanying & Wang Hongbin
First Floor – Reception Area
The interior of the first floor continues the avant-garde aesthetic set by the facade. The Miss B jewelry section features bold clashes of pink and purple hues. Contrasting materials such as crushed stone and metal are used in the detailing, while a vintage wooden fireplace is paired with modern glass lamps to blend history with contemporary design. Accents like a pink spiral staircase and floral jewelry displays create a dreamy, whimsical ambiance.
Adjacent to this, Little B maintains its characteristic metallic elements. Colored cork has been introduced to soften the space, adding playful warm tones that complement the original palette. The overall layout removes partitions between the two stores, shortening the distance between the sister brands and allowing visitors to freely move between two distinct yet harmoniously connected spaces.
▲ Photography: Lin Shanying & Wang Hongbin
▲ Photography: Lin Shanying & Wang Hongbin
▲ Photography: Lin Shanying & Wang Hongbin
▲ Photography: Lin Shanying & Wang Hongbin
Recreation
▲ Sketch
▲ Photography (BIM work): S ò Studio
▲ Photography: S ò Studio
▲ Photography: S ò Studio
“Recreation” represents a bold design experiment. We repurposed old wooden fireplaces by randomly cutting them in the factory, preserving their “memory” inside transparent glass boxes. Combined with light tubes, this creates a striking contrast between old and new elements.
Second Floor – Redefine
The coffee area on the second floor carries forward the Fauvist legacy: elegance, classicism, and calmness, while introducing surreal elements. The space is thoughtfully enclosed and segmented on the upper level, establishing a new style that sharply contrasts with the first floor.
Ascending the grand spiral staircase feels like entering a parallel universe or space shuttle, much like stepping into the movie “Midnight in Paris,” which transports viewers to a golden era. The texture and color palette of the film inspire this space, inviting visitors to enjoy a light-filled, nostalgic afternoon tea experience.
▲ Photography: Lin Shanying & Wang Hongbin
▲ Photography: Lin Shanying & Wang Hongbin
▲ Photography: S ò Studio
▲ Photography: S ò Studio
▲ Photography: S ò Studio
▲ Photography: S ò Studio
▲ Photography: S ò Studio
▲ Photography: S ò Studio
Project Information
Project Name: Beijing Sanlitun Branch of Fauvism (BEAST + LITTLE B + Café)
Area: 245 m²
Location: 1st Floor, Taikoo Li South District, Sanlitun, No.19 Sanlitun North Road, Beijing
Photographers: Lin Shanying, Wang Hongbin & Sò Studio
Design Team (BIM Tutorial Team): Sò Studio
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