Zen meets Modernity: Atelier Tao+C unveils new flagship store in Beijing

Atelier tao+c has transformed an old textile warehouse into a stunning showroom for emerging furniture brand ZIIN in Beijing. The warehouse, which features a pitched roof and brick walls built in the 1960s, has been given a new lease of life with the addition of two intersected square frameworks, meticulously rotated at a 45-degree angle. The result is a beautiful balance between the existing site and the new functions of exhibition and sale.

The two frameworks have been treated differently, with one being transparent and the other solid, to create a crystal-like structure. The transparent framework is clad with corrugated polycarbonate panels and welcomes sunshine from the south window through to the back framework, which is wrapped in timber panels. The diagonal positioning of the frameworks creates a new spatial order and circulation, enriching the depth both visually and experientially.

The structure groups homogeneous rooms in a continuous sequence, organized in two sets of identical columns, with one designated room leading into another. This route brings flexibility for different events and spontaneous gatherings with different possibilities. The negative space between the existing brick walls and the new frameworks introduces the notion of "semi-interior and semi-exterior" flow along the perimeter.

The mezzanine floor features an unexpected space of a triangle balcony, pergolas, and a staircase placed in a somewhat constricted area, 'seeping out' purposefully and generating a glass box on the façade in a triangle shape. This tension between architectural boundaries and interior components is intentional and reveals the intricate design process.

Atelier tao+c has captured the authentic craft of construction and expressed the narrative of the structure itself. Every component is visible and traceable, from the steel structure, timber frame, and substructure of walls to the assembled finish panels. The project's materials are common industrial materials, including standard steel beams, profiles, timber, and bricks, regardless of cost, grading, roughness, or smoothness. By adopting this material selection, the project eliminates hierarchy, making no distinctions in the Ziin Store.

The result is a beautiful adaptive reuse space that delivers a deep expression of design and construction details. Atelier tao+c has used basic formal logic, mundane materials, and construction techniques to transform an old textile warehouse into a stunning showroom for ZIIN, an emerging furniture brand.

Architects: atelier tao+c

Area: 186 m²

Year: 2022

Photographs: Wen Studio

Design Team: Tao Liu, Chunyan Cai, Haojia Song, Weilu Wang, Jingying Cai (intern)

Construction: Shanghai Tianci Architecture Deco, Limited, Co

City: Beijing

Country: China