Located in the heart of Zhongguancun, the hub of innovation and entrepreneurship in China, Entrepreneurship Street stretches 220 meters as a lifeblood flowing through the city, energizing its fast-paced rhythm.
In September 2020, the Taili Relay Station Zhongguancun Street Station, designed and renovated by Qingshi, opened at the northern entrance of Entrepreneurship Street. This 24-hour multifunctional space offers urban dwellers a unique place to rest amid the bustling city. Beyond its practical functions, it acts like a small energy pump, injecting vitality into the city’s daily rhythms and contributing to its ongoing metabolic cycle.
This project also serves as a comprehensive realization of Qingshi Design’s metabolic design concept.
Space to the City
Between inhaling and exhaling — a micro metabolism
By infusing the concept of metabolism into spatial reconstruction, the Taili Station transcends being just a new spot at a street intersection.
The designer preserved much of the original structure, extending and reshaping it to create a new space that blends open, semi-open, and enclosed areas.
The transition from outdoor to indoor moves visitors from a noisy environment to a calm and peaceful atmosphere, revealing the full composite space where each individual can find their preferred area to settle.
For Taili Station, which integrates both old and new elements, the redesign process itself embodies spatial metabolism. The creation of this new urban space is a subtle and ingenious transformation.
This gradually evolving compound courtyard resembles a mini city where busy urbanites pause and relax among interconnected micro-landscapes. Here, visitors recharge physically with the aid of well-designed facilities and experience a slowed pace of time within carefully crafted scenes.
When people move on, they do so lightheartedly, eyes brightened — a testament to how a small space can contribute to the city’s vitality and how the city itself undergoes continual metabolism through such revitalization.
Space for People
Between inhaling and exhaling — reducing ‘negatives’ and ’empowering’ simultaneously
To achieve the balance of “lightening human burden” and “empowering” the space, Qingshi Design integrated diverse functions and usage scenarios, enhanced by fresh, simple colors and layered landscaping.
The space includes a small sharing area, bar counter, windowed workspaces, conference rooms, booths, and mezzanine areas — each catering to different needs. A circular flow connects these areas from the ground floor to the mezzanine, creating a dynamic and layered spatial experience. This miniature composite community easily adapts to various demands, despite its compact size.
Landscape plays a vital role in the space, with plants breathing slowly and releasing oxygen. Amid the bustling Zhongguancun streets, these greenery pockets offer a tranquil contrast. Different plant forms create micro-landscapes that stand still in various functional areas, establishing their own unique environments.
Surrounded by plants, time flows gently, as the greenery absorbs carbon dioxide and eases human anxiety and unease.
Set against a clean and comfortable palette of white and green, outdoor materials such as gravel, cylindrical bricks, wrought iron, and terrazzo continue the space’s simple, natural aesthetic. These elements blend seamlessly with the environment, soothing visitors and gently awakening new energy.
Space to Time
Between inhaling and exhaling — a 24-hour continuous cycle
7:30 AM — Before office workers button up their shirts, the single armrest sofa and small round table by the window offer a moment for a hot cup of coffee. Alternatively, one can lean against the bar near the door, savor the aroma of Kenyan beans, and watch the bustling crowd outside — a small luxury before joining colleagues.
10:00 AM — Entrepreneurs gather at the workbench in front of the bar for a small meeting. After brainstorming, they enjoy a simple lunch in the mezzanine area.
12:00 noon — The massage sofa area becomes a popular spot for an afternoon recharge, while young colleagues with high enthusiasm continue their work in the mezzanine area.
3:00 PM — A discussion meeting in the booth area has just concluded, and a research meeting for a special group is beginning in the medium-sized conference room.
Evening — The courtyard and surrounding space become enchanting under the lights. The bar hosts nightly mini gatherings where entrepreneurs meet new friends amid a soft, lively atmosphere. Meanwhile, in the exclusive member area, some sip coffee with casual interest, while others prepare for a long night ahead.
Late Night — In a sleeping cabin, the marketing manager preparing for an early flight the next day drifts into deep sleep, finding rest in a quiet corner of the city.
This space never sleeps; it operates 24/7, continuously energizing urbanites in its own unique way and sustaining life through its subtle yet unceasing metabolism.
Project Information
Design Director: Li Yiming
Design Creator: Wang Xueli
Soft Decoration Manager: Hu Kun
Official Website: www.qucess.com
Hardsuit Team: Li Liang, Ji Shichao, Han Zhangsheng, Zhang Zhihao, Ren Lulu, Wang Qian
Soft Decoration Team: Pingfan, Zou Guangpeng
Photography by Shi Yunfeng
Film Director: Meng Feixiang
Brand Manager: Li Yuhan
Media Manager: Sakae Strategy Brand Organization
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