HARMAY Chengdu UFun Store, Bakery and Bar by AIM Architecture

Located in the heart of Chengdu, China, the HARMAY Chengdu UFun Store by AIM Architecture redefines mixed-use retail with a bold combination of a cosmetic store, bakery, and bar. Spanning 585 m², the project reflects Chengdu’s vibrant “slow life” culture while embracing the city’s fast-paced urban development.

Chengdu, often celebrated as one of China’s happiest cities, thrives on a unique lifestyle where leisure seamlessly blends with social interactions. Inspired by this spirit, AIM Architecture designed a space that operates as a 24-hour destination, uniting retail, dining, and nightlife under one roof. Instead of separating functions, the design fosters interaction between programs, allowing each to influence the other while retaining flexibility and independence.

Design Concept: Store-Within-a-Store

At the center of the project lies the cosmetic store, embraced on both sides by the bakery and bar. This linear spatial arrangement creates a “store-within-a-store” typology, achieved through minimalist yet powerful interventions. The boundary between spaces is defined by industrial factory door units—modular, openable, and transparent enough to maintain visual connectivity while providing separation when needed.

Industrial Aesthetic and Modular Elements

The design relies heavily on industrial prefabricated elements, particularly crates sourced from the brand’s warehouse culture. These components, repeated and stacked, organize the interior and double as displays, furniture, and functional objects. Their durability, affordability, and simplicity resonate with HARMAY’s ethos, while also introducing playful, adaptable design solutions.

The store interior echoes a warehouse aesthetic with white tiled floors, a steel grid ceiling, and cashier counters crafted from industrial elements. This backdrop elevates the retail experience, highlighting products while grounding the space in raw authenticity.

Public Engagement and Outdoor Life

Beyond its interior, the project opens itself to the public plaza, celebrating Chengdu’s lively outdoor lifestyle. Playful croissant-inspired seating designed by BAsdBAN invites visitors to enjoy fresh pastries, while stacked wooden pallets transform into communal sitting areas. Large thermal video screens display real-time activity, blurring the line between the store and its urban surroundings.

The facade’s openness and flexibility reinforce the building’s role as a social connector, where architecture engages directly with community life. The project doesn’t just serve as a retail space—it becomes part of Chengdu’s cultural rhythm, enhancing urban vibrancy and offering moments of rest, gathering, and enjoyment.

The HARMAY Chengdu UFun Store, Bakery, and Bar is more than a mixed-use commercial project—it is a statement on how modularity, prefabrication, and community integration can redefine retail design. AIM Architecture demonstrates that high-quality experiences don’t always require complexity; instead, they can emerge from the clever reuse of simple, industrial elements that resonate with local culture and everyday life.

All Photographs are works of Wen Studio,