Little Happiness Commissary

Little Happiness Commissary is a complex space combining an ice cream parlor with an unpackaged snack store and a café.

WHY?

The concept was inspired by the geography of the site, the economic analysis of the area, and the impression of ice cream. The design strategy was to provide a culturally rich space that would enhance the feelings of the residents, while at the same time meeting the needs of the local residents as a tourist attraction.

WHAT?

I believe that ice cream makes people happy, and if the store provides Cuban specialty coffee and snacks to the mix, it provides a simple way for people to gain a little happiness.

The commissary's operation will give people the freedom to choose what they want to eat, and for local residents, it will be a place where they can choose how to eat their ice cream according to their own preferences, and a place where they can bond with their families, children, and friends. For travelers, it is also a good place to choose from a wide variety of treats to go with their ice cream, and then choose the right treats to buy back for their family and friends. From an overall perspective, this place provides a comfortable shelter for the public and helps to bonds people in a relationship with others.

HOW?

The whole interior design of the store incorporates the process of buying ice cream. It involves picking, frozen and melting the ice cream.

Starting with the selection of materials, the three zones were divided into three main arrangements: the picking area with a blue-green base and other colors, and the frozen area with cool blue tiles or stone creates a sense of coolness. The final of the melting area is warmed up with a yellow color scheme, metal and skylights.

WHERE?

The picking area is arranged as a self-service ingredient area, with an entrance form the park, the unpackaged shop model is adopted, so people could buy and as much as them want. It also gives residents and tourists more opportunities to try more flavours. Besides, the stone wall here with different flavor ice cream models on it provides a game for kids to collect ice cream flavours and redeem them for prizes within a certain period of time.

The reception counter combined with a bar is also a part of the picking area. This area has another entrance from the street and two windows for people outdoor to take-out. Here is also an important transition space from the self-service ingredient area to the seating area on the ground floor. Due to this reason, the ceiling is made of rippled acrylic. The space makes a cool but sunny atmosphere.

The frozen area is also the seating areas. One of them on the ground floor has an entrance to the outdoor space. For parents with small children, the large windows allow them to see their children playing outside. In addition to the blue floor tiles, the sloping ceiling in the raised seating area is painted in blue for people to feel that they have cool feelings in a freezer.

The second floor seating area is mainly for small families or friends to gather. The cool colours are used to create a sense of coolness and simulate the scene of a frozen icehouse. This area also displays the Cuban snacks as gifts for people to browse and buy while eating the snacks and ice products.

The warmly coloured melting area is arranged as multi- functional area. This area provides performances and reading for after-dinner activities. Yellow is the dominant color in this space, and the open patio lets in abundant sunlight. The lively atmosphere in this area focuses on the melting atmosphere of the ice-cream. Cube seatings can be configured and used in different ways depending on the activity.

In the long run, this store will transform with the passing time into a gathering place for people because of its design features, both for local residents and tourists.