This renovation project is situated in an old building within a city park. Originally, the structure was a single-story, box-style building surrounded by the park’s most central and rare large lawn, offering excellent views and a prominent, easily noticeable location. The design aims to transform the space into an open, modern, and welcoming public area for reading, while also incorporating commercial functions such as coffee and beverage retail. The goal is to create an attractive, multifunctional small public building that nurtures a vibrant urban environment for park visitors, addressing the shortage of high-quality indoor spaces for leisure and social engagement.
The design preserves the original steel structure while removing the outdated glass curtain wall. The facade is reimagined to maximize visual connection between the interior and the park’s natural surroundings. By introducing views of the lush greenery into the interior, visitors enjoying reading or beverages can feel closely connected to the outdoors. To maintain transparency, the building features a curved, high-transparency glass curtain wall. This free-flowing curve also defines the layout of an adjacent indoor book bar, enhancing the fluidity of the space.
The interior layout is designed to fulfill the essential functions of a book bar. Bookshelves, which significantly impact visual perception, are arranged parallel to the curved glass facade. These partitions are crafted from 3mm thick steel plates, sized to provide ample support for books while filtering light and framing outdoor views. Against the backdrop of the expansive green park, the building is boldly painted in a vivid orange hue. This single, striking color bridges the indoor and outdoor environments, offering fresh visual dynamics that contrast yet harmonize with the park’s greenery.
The indoor functionality emphasizes simplicity and efficiency. Water bar equipment and mechanical components are neatly housed within three cylindrical bar counters, each with a diameter of 1200mm. The design uses these three independent cylinders to facilitate a seamless flow for visitors. Constructed from clean, durable stainless steel, these counters reflect light, maintain color consistency indoors, and add a contemporary touch.
The original building lacked a rooftop platform. To enhance visitor experience and circulation between the building and the park, a suspended rooftop platform was added. This platform connects to the interior via a spiral staircase, echoing the bookshelf’s partition structure. The architectural form was derived purely from functional and structural requirements, resulting in a clean, minimalist shape.
Project Drawings
△ Plan View
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Section Diagram
△ Exploded Diagram
Project Information
Architect: Centimeter Manufacturing
Area: 146 m²
Project Year: 2022
Photographer: Zhang Chao
Suppliers: Dongguan Tiangang Metal Material Co., Ltd., Dongguan Zaoxin Metal Materials Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Lizhiyuan Architectural Technology Co., Ltd.
Lead Architects: Chen Danping, Zheng Buyang
Design Team: Chen Danping, Zheng Buyang, Zhong Yingchuan, Zhu Liyin
Design Consultant: Liu Xiaodu
Client: Pingshan District Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports, Shenzhen
Construction: Shenzhen Juhao Decoration Engineering Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Gongyi Jianzao Engineering Co., Ltd.
Partner: Hubei Jiajing Architectural Design Co., Ltd.
Location: Shenzhen
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