SoBA Architects completes The Bloom Box, a transformable cafe-florist in Kunshan
SoBA Architects has launched The Bloom Box, a 40-square-metre café and florist in Kunshan, China. This eye-catching yellow structure features facades that can slide open during the day, allowing for an open interior, and can close into a compact shape after hours. Located on a platform by a lake in an urban park, it is built with a lightweight steel framework for support on its floating base, finished with translucent aluminium cladding. Next to it, there’s a long wooden bench shaded by a steel frame and ECTFE membrane. The architects describe it as "a living container," designed to adapt to various conditions. SoBA Architects, established in 2018 by Ruo Wang and Haiyin Tang, has offices in Suzhou and Seattle. The project was commissioned by Huaqiao Town, Kunshan Municipal Government, with photography by Wen Studio.
Key facts
- SoBA Architects completed The Bloom Box cafe and florist shop in Kunshan, China
- The 40-square-metre building sits on a lakeside platform in an urban park
- It features dynamic facades that unfold during business hours and fold closed when not in use
- The structure uses a lightweight steel frame and translucent aluminium cladding
- SoBA Architects was founded in 2018 by Ruo Wang and Haiyin Tang in New York
- The project client is Huaqiao Town, Kunshan Municipal Government
- Lead architects are Wang Ruo and Tang Haiyin
- Photography is by Wen Studio
Entities
Artists
- Ruo Wang
- Haiyin Tang
- Wang Ruo
- Tang Haiyin
- Chen Tuo
- Li Chuanzhang
- Wang Yuan
- Shen Yichen
- Li Zizhen
- Zang Yuhong
Institutions
- SoBA Architects
- Huaqiao Town, Kunshan Municipal Government
- Huaqiao Economic Development Zone Planning and Construction Bureau
- Shanghai Guangyue Lighting Design Co
- Suzhou Luting Construction Engineering Co
- Dezeen
Locations
- Kunshan
- China
- New York
- Suzhou
- Seattle
- Shanghai