© Dirk Weiblen
- Architects: LUKSTUDIO
- Location: No. 42 Huakang Street, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, China
- Design Team: Christina Luk, Alba Beroiz Blazquez, Ray Ou, Jin Hong Cai, Shanyun Huang
- Area: 250.0 m2
- Photographs: Dirk Weiblen
© Dirk Weiblen
Located in a residential neighborhood next to the Tianhe district in central Guangzhou, Atelier Peter Fong by Lukstudio revives an empty corner lot into both an office and a cafe. Through a series of clean white volumes, the design purifies the existing chaotic site to create a calm yet inviting atmosphere.
© Dirk Weiblen
Elevation
© Dirk Weiblen
From the outside, a floating aluminum canopy connects the volumes together, while delineating between the old and the new. Three boxes stick out from the interior, composing a coherent façade while creating areas in-between like urban alleys that draw people in from the street. Each box contains a distinct program; café, brainstorming area, meeting room and a break-out lounge. In contrast to the pristine forms, the voids are painted gray and left with the original structural ceiling.
© Dirk Weiblen
© Dirk Weiblen
Following a process of meticulous spatial carving, openings and niches are shaped within the volumes. Large cut-outs connect the café to the exterior and frame the surrounding greenery. On the inside, white ceiling pockets and wooden niches create a sense of intimacy. The office entry is also carved at its edge to feature a peaceful Zen garden, which becomes a focal point and visually connects the different parts of the office together.
© Dirk Weiblen
© Dirk Weiblen
The selection of materials further enhances the pure definition of the spaces. Smooth surfaces such as white walls and terrazzo flooring dominate the main space, serving as a canvas to capture light and shadow. The brainstorming box is lined with polycarbonate panels that form a subtle visual connection between the café and the workplace. Intimate areas are characterized by organic elements; such as continuous timber panels in the brainstorming zone and remnants of an existing brick wall in the lounge.
© Dirk Weiblen
© Dirk Weiblen
Combining artisanal café culture with a collaborative co-working space, Atelier Peter Fong adapts a contemporary social model to a local Chinese neighborhood. The complete transformation of a forgotten site into a destination demonstrates how architectural interventions can activate the streetscape and enhance nearby communities.
© Dirk Weiblen
Plan
© Dirk Weiblen
Sig Nordal 