△ Facade © Lv Xiaobin
Located in the vibrant Qilin Community of Wangjing, Beijing, this project embraces a lively neighborhood known for its diverse regional cuisine. Our goal was to redefine the beer bar concept within this bustling dining area. Unlike traditional beer bars that thrive on energetic atmospheres, we aimed to craft a setting that is comfortable, relaxed, and quiet. Through thoughtful choices in materials, colors, and lighting, the design evokes the collective memory associated with beer—the life memories, the temperature and taste, and the relaxed mindset of drinking. This approach creates a fresh spatial experience that sparks new excitement and curiosity around familiar elements.
△ Outdoor perspective © Lv Xiaobin
View indoors through the window © Lv Xiaobin
The upper facade features a suspended landscape created with double-layered U-shaped glass and greenery. This design filters soft sunlight into the interior during the day, while providing gentle ambient lighting for both indoor and outdoor spaces at night. A two-meter-deep stainless steel eave runs along the facade, forming a corridor-like transition space. The diffuse reflection of the materials around this area further enhances the seamless connection between inside and outside.
△ Indoor perspective © Lv Xiaobin
△ Indoor perspective © Lv Xiaobin
△ Indoor perspective © Lv Xiaobin
The lower facade is made of transparent glass and incorporates folding doors, energy-efficient double-layer entrance doors, and expansive hanging window sections. This design allows the facade to be fully opened or closed depending on the season and event, blurring the boundaries between inside and outside and offering a dynamic dining experience.
Outdoor Bar Area © Lv Xiaobin
△ Indoor perspective © Lv Xiaobin
The circular cold storage unit located at the center of the space serves as a focal point. It houses 20 different beer varieties for the restaurant and is equipped with a digital beer head management system that monitors parameters such as gas, temperature, and flow rate. This technology ensures that every glass of beer is served at its optimal quality.
View looking out the window from indoors © Lv Xiaobin
△ Staircase area perspective © Lv Xiaobin
△ Rotating ordering plate © Lv Xiaobin
The bar, staircase, and sofa seating areas surrounding the interior feature curved forms that soften spatial boundaries, lending the space a fluid and dynamic feel. The curved high table and open staircase area are designed for standing or leaning, providing versatile group spaces that encourage natural interactions among guests, even strangers. The contrast between flat terrazzo flooring and the facade’s washed stone creates a tactile interplay between horizontal and vertical surfaces, enriching the overall material experience.
△ Curved high table and staircase area, terrazzo and washed stone texture comparison © Lv Xiaobin
△ Seating area © Lv Xiaobin
Our vision was to create distinct spaces within a complex neighborhood that are inviting rather than aggressive, emphasizing unique character through the intrinsic qualities of materials—from reflective stainless steel and transparent glass to warm solid wood, smooth terrazzo, and rough washed stone.
View indoors through the window © Lv Xiaobin
Technical Drawings
△ Plan view
△ Sectional perspective
△ Axonometric diagram
△ Wall detail
Project Information
Owner: Qingdao Beer
Design Firm: MINIR Lab for Architecture
Designer’s Website: minorlab.info
Designer’s Email: info@minorlabarchitects.com
Lead Architect: Liu Chen
Design Team: Zhao Dan (Project Architect), Jin Weixi, Zhao Wei
Photographer: Lv Xiaobin, Instant Architecture
Brand Vision: 297DESIGN
Lighting Consultant: Shike Lighting
Project Location: Wangjing, Beijing
Area: 258 square meters
Materials Used: U-shaped glass, stainless steel plate, washed stone, terrazzo
Project Duration: June 2020 – February 2021
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