KLC introduces nature into retail warehouse extension interior in beijing

tokyo-based architectural design lab KLC has completed the extension of a small organic beverage shop situated within beijing, china. the two-story red brick warehouse building includes a food lab, dining space, sales space, workshop area, gallery, office zone, and a greenhouse. inspired by the clients’ strong interest in natural ecosystems, the design seeks to actively introduce the outdoor space into the interior.

all images courtesy of KLC

‘as in most retail areas, it’s important to display a popular and busy atmosphere inside, to be seen from the outside and attract more guests’ KLC says. in order to achieve that, the design generates a three-dimensional, partly transparent volume, which is distinct and recognizable while catching passers-by’s attention from various viewpoints. the flow of the interior is made visible, through circulation glass corridor, placed on the facade of the warehouse. 

the design adopts a passive approach, in order to generate a building with consideration to the environment, thus making mechanical add-ups optional. the materials used are convenient, in accordance with the local construction technology, while forming a connection between the past and the future.

having the character and the various functions of the store in mind, KLC has developed a spatial quality designed to coordinate with the exterior environment. the lab and retail space, which are expected to attract daily customers, are allocated on the north side of the 1st floor plan. through this positioning, they are visually recognized from either the street or the interior. 

the greenhouse is placed on the south side of the structure, ensuring its access to sufficient sunlight. the art pieces displayed in the gallery are placed against the glass, next to the street on the northside of the 2nd floor, protected from direct sunlight. on the southwest side of the 2nd floor, a workshop space for private gatherings is set.

within the interior, there are no doors or other partitions, as the attempt of connecting all floors, through scents and sounds. the design imposes no strict rules for the usage of the space, establishing a flexible environment: customers can even sit in the middle of the traffic flow line. meanwhile, the natural light can be felt from any direction inside the building, resulting in a spiral-like space that grows upward like a living plant.

the warehouse before the intervention by KLC

project info:

name: echo house
architecture office: KLC
location: beijing, china

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edited by: myrto katsikopoulou | designboom