The vast universe, filled with sparkling stars and a mysterious, dreamlike night sky, holds ancient history and sparks human imagination. It is a realm of unknowns and endless possibilities. Throughout history, people have longed for the stars and actively sought to explore them. This vast sea of stars represents a journey—a source of dreams and vitality.
In the virtual world, individuals can shed the armor of reality and pursue the stars deep within their hearts, bringing even the most distant dreams within reach.
This project is located on the fourth floor of a commercial street in Huayang District, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, covering approximately 300 square meters. The design challenge was to revitalize and utilize this commercial space effectively, creating a unique place for relaxation and entertainment, all while adhering to a limited budget.
Project Overview
Given the tight budget constraints, the design team established an overall strategy to control costs. The client set a total budget cap of 200,000 yuan, with a ceiling of 700 yuan per square meter.
To comply with fire safety regulations, the original building space was divided into two sections by constructing a wall in the middle, costing about 10,000 yuan. Additionally, a new bathroom was installed at a cost between 10,000 and 20,000 yuan.
The wall panels throughout the space were finished with latex paint—a common, eco-friendly building material known for its quick drying time. This approach kept the final construction cost under 500 yuan per square meter.
Compared to similar commercial spaces, Fanjian Internet Cafe achieved superior results with a lower budget.
Interior Overview
△ Blue Hall © Wang Yixiang/Wanli
△ Red Feature Area © Wang Yixiang/Wang Yitong
The space is divided into two distinct zones, with walls painted in bold red and blue latex paint. This strong color contrast creates varied spatial experiences and symbolizes the two competing teams in the games played here.
Color subtly influences the subconscious mind, and the monochrome spaces feel pure and bright, enhancing artistic expression. Different spatial levels evoke diverse emotional and visual sensations. The sudden color shifts guide visitors through the space, giving a sense of extension and drawing passersby inside to relax and play games.
The red and blue wall panels define two connected yet distinctive areas, offering an attractive aesthetic at a low cost.
△ Galaxy Deck Area © Wang Yixiang/Wanli
Just past the entrance bar, a long central table and several square tables for four are arranged on either side, forming the main seating area. The starry sky serves as the central theme, with lighting and material choices establishing a dreamy, immersive atmosphere.
Gray floor tiles reflect light from LED strips embedded in the walls and ceiling, creating comfortable and soothing illumination.
The corridor features curved light strips that extend to guide visitors, complemented by star-like point lights along both sides. This combination forms a rich architectural dialogue and evokes the sensation of walking through space.
△ Galaxy Deck Area © Wang Yixiang/Wanli
△ Blue Hall © Wang Yixiang/Wanli
△ Blue Hall © Wang Yixiang/Wanli
Two rows of long tables streamline the spatial flow, paired with light-colored floor tiles, white computer desks, blue walls, and illuminated light strips to create a dreamy environment.
Large French windows soften the boundary between the interior and the street, allowing natural daylight to flood the space during the day. This connection between inside and outside blurs aesthetic boundaries, enhances daylighting, and creates a softer, more inviting atmosphere.
At night, the interplay of red and blue lighting captivates passersby, inviting them to come in, relax, and enjoy the space.
△ Red Feature Area © Wang Yixiang/Wang Yitong
In addition, a smaller space was created with a restroom to meet functional needs. This area is relatively narrow, and the gypsum board ceiling is complemented by vertical felt light strips on both sides, enhancing the space’s elongated feel.
A row of long tables lines the wall, maintaining a sense of continuous transition within the space.
Partial ceiling © Wang Yixiang/Wang Yitong
The ceiling plays a crucial role in reinforcing the internet cafe’s starry sky theme. Constructed from gypsum board and enhanced with various lighting fixtures—including LED beads and strips—it achieves a striking visual effect.
The blue wall panels, combined with curved and extended light strips and scattered light beads, conjure a dreamy atmosphere reminiscent of the Milky Way. Light becomes a new design language, with circular light sources of varying sizes evoking stars.
These elements not only focus visitors’ attention but also express spatial brightness and darkness, enriching players’ leisure and entertainment experiences.
Light dances across surfaces, and the materials respond by reflecting and mapping it, transforming the space. Here, gamers explore virtual worlds, freeing themselves and chasing the stars within their hearts.
△ Blue Hall © Wang Yixiang/Wanli
The design maximizes starry sky elements in both hard and soft furnishings. The moon-shaped chandeliers echo the theme and complement the space’s circular and curved forms, emphasizing elemental shapes.
Repeated moon chandeliers hang from the ceiling, creating a unique spatial atmosphere. At night, their light resembles stars connected across the Milky Way, becoming a captivating visual centerpiece.
△ Detail Decoration © Wang Yixiang/Wanli
Due to budget considerations, complex decorations were avoided. Through collaboration with advertising firms and construction teams, the internet cafe’s logo and name were designed and integrated into the walls, using text as a key decorative element.
Text transcends the limitations of spoken language across time and space, directly touching people’s hearts.
△ Detail Decoration © Wang Yixiang/Wanli
This design primarily addresses budget constraints, aiming to create a rich spatial experience through unique concepts and spatial interventions within a limited commercial area.
The goal is to establish a destination where young people can relax, gather, and enjoy the environment.
△ Layout Plan © Pingjie Design
△ Facade Layout Plan © Pingjie Design
△ Facade Layout Plan © Pingjie Design
△ Facade Layout Plan © Pingjie Design
△ Ceiling Layout © Pingjie Design
△ Floor Plan © Pingjie Design
Project Details
Project Name: Starry Sky Internet Cafe
Designer: Pingjie Design (Suzhou Pingjie Building Technology Co., Ltd.)
Design Development: Shanghai Hengtai Architectural Design Consulting Co., Ltd.
Company Website: paralleliz-design.com
Contact Email: __AI_S_SC0__
Project Design & Completion Year: 2020
Lead Designer and Team: Wang Yitong
Project Location: No. 672, Shangbanqiao Road, Chenghua Avenue, Chenghua District, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province
Total Floor Area: 300 m²
Photography Credits: Wang Yixiang, Wang Yitong, Wanli
Client: Fanjian Internet Cafe
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