Commissioned by Beijing speciality coffee chain Grid Coffee to design its latest outpost, Beijing-based Japanese practice B.L.U.E. Architecture Studio had to contend with a compact 25-square-metre footprint and a demanding setting – the coffee shop is part of SanYuanLi Food Market, a popular market that has been serving locals and expats for over 30 years due to its proximity to the embassy district and the hotel-lined banks of the Liangma River. Their answer is a starkly minimalist venue that is nevertheless harmoniously integrated into its colourful, chaotic surroundings thanks to its rich tapestry of textures and handcrafted details that reflect the market’s diverse array of stalls and range of fresh produce. Guided by the principles of simplicity and functionality, the team have made the most of the modest property using an elemental palette of concrete, copper and wood to craft a truly unique environment that succeeds in both complementing and revitalizing the local community.

Having to contend with a narrow street façade, the architectural team came up with an eye-catching gesture to draw people in. A sculptural concrete portal frames a large glass opening dominated by a full-height copper sliding door. Comprising a patchwork of 175 oxidized copper squares, manually assembled to create a unique grid pattern inspired by the brand’s name, the door creates a visually striking contrast in relation to the rugged, abstractly-shape concrete portal.

Upon entering, visitors are greeted by a monolithic counter extending from the front to the back, dividing the space into customer and staff areas. Slighting angled, it also separates the ordering and serving zones. Cast-in-situ from a cement and coffee bean aggregate, its uniquely spotted finish is a nod to the brand’s commitment to single-origin coffee. The counter’s sculptural sensibility extends to the entire space which is predominantly enveloped in polished concrete surfaces. Hand-cast, striated concrete wall sections add contrast while elm wood wall elements that function as coffee cup stands and backrests add warmth.

Forming part of one of the market’s entrance vestibules (its location is by the market’s north entrance), the coffee shop’s internal façade is also rendered in striated concrete against which a hand-hammered copper plate stands out. The copper plate slides open to reveal a retail window that allows customers entering or exiting the market to purchase coffee beans connecting the subdued, minimalist venue with the vibrant, chaotic market, both visually and conceptually, functioning in essence just like another market stall. A custom-made display system advertising the available coffee varieties for sale consists of several square boards made from different woods, each representing a different coffee variety, which can be interchangeably hung above the sales counter. The low-tech displays can also be found inside the coffee shop aptly forming a grid, underlining the dual qualities of simplicity and uniqueness that underpin the design concept: