glazed barrel-shaped cooler centers 'tsingtao 1903 taproom' in beijing

located in beijing’s wangjing qilinshe, china, amid a lively neighborhood with restaurants of various regional cuisines, ‘tsingtao 1903 taproom’ takes shape as a new form of a pub. MINOR lab aimed to promote this legendary chinese brand to refresh its image, providing visitors with a unique spatial experience, prompting them an enjoyable sense of excitement and curiosity between beer and the environment. furthermore, a glazed barrel-shaped cooler acts as the focal point at the heart of the interior.
all images courtesy of chen liu

view from outdoor dining area to interior

MINOR lab sought to blend materials, colors, and light effects to develop a friendly, relaxing yet not bustling atmosphere that is different from common beer places. the upper half of the façade is a suspended space made up of double-walled, U-profile glass and dried wheat; it allows filtered, gentle sunlight to brighten up the interior space during the day, and it offers ambient lighting for both the interior and exterior at night. the two-meter-wide stainless-steel eave runs through the façade, zoning a porch space.barrel-shaped walk-in cooler

the way that the eave reflects the surroundings also contributes to a sense of spatial transition between the interior and exterior. the lower half takes form as a transparent glass façade –function-wise, it consists of folding doors, air-lock entrances, and large-sized top-hung windows. the whole façade can be completely opened based on seasonal and event needs. it softens the boundary visually and improves the mobility of the dining experience.
view from the entrance to rotating menu board

at the center of ‘tsingtao 1903 taproom’, the cylindrical, display walk-in cooler as a spatial installation acts as the central point. storing 20 types of beer, it is equipped with a digital operation system managing all the beer taps and monitoring all the metrics — gas, temperature, flow rate — to make sure that every beer is of its perfect quality. filling up the interior, the bar area, staircase area, and main dining area in their curved shapes tone down the boundaries, rendering the entire space more fluidity and occasion-centric. a set of curved high tables and an open stepped seating area can accommodate different types of gatherings, inviting guests to casually interact with each other.
interior view

terrazzo and exposed aggregate concrete were respectively applied to the flat and vertical interfaces, revealing the compelling contrast in texture though both belong to the same type of aggregate. from the façade to the interior, materials in use and their distinctive features — the reflexivity of stainless steel, the transparency of glass, the warmth of solid wood, the smoothness of terrazzo, and the coarseness of exposed aggregate concrete — create an unaggressive yet self-contained venue among the boisterous neighborhood.
curved high table and stepped seating area，the contrast of terrazzo and exposed aggregate concrete

view from interior to exterior

view from the window to the interior

suspended space made up of U-profile glass and dried wheat

seating area
front facade
plan

sectional perspective

project info:

name: tsingtao 1903 taproom

architects: MINOR lab

principal architect: liu chen 

design team: zhao dan (project architect), jin weixi, zhao wei

location: wangjing qilinshe, beijing 

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edited by: christina petridou | designboom