Location: 16 Di’Anmenwai Avenue, Beijing, China
Category: Cafe & bistro
Project Architect: Yanwen Zhu
Team: Byungmin Jeon,Rachel Wang
Area: 153m2
Project Year: 2019
Photographs: Byungmin Jeon

Located near Gulou (the Drum Tower) in central Beijing, the renovated café Oh! retains the historic style of its original building and is modified with modern materials for functional and aesthetic purposes.

The hybrid design philosophy is best embodied in its façade, with half decorated with traditional Chinese grey bricks and wood, and the other half, an ice-cream hut, with light green terrazzo. Such contrast is harmonized under the same tiled roof and wood beam, refreshing but not obtrusive in the surrounding historic quarter.

The wood framing of the original residence is kept and reinforced by I-beams. Yet they are not concealed, for the designer intends to bring a rustic and real feeling.