In Haikou, Hanan Island, China, a strikingly contemporary, single-material design for a new cinema and coffee shop by One Plus Partnership Ltd. has risen from humble brick.
Swooping overhead and swelling up from the foundation, the monochromatic interior of the Haikou Gaoxingli Insun Cinema & Coffee Bar is animated by light and shadow, a jack-on-jack masonry pattern, and elegant curves to invoke movement.
Keeping the island location in mind, the architecture firm drew inspiration from the ocean, incorporating rolling wave motifs that extend from both the ceiling and the floor and double as lighting features, tables, and seating.
“We precisely placed bricks to look like waves,” the studio says in a statement. “These waves layered in such a way where you can see them all from any angle.”
Incorporating blocky brick adds a playful tension to the notion of fluidity, giving the interior a sense of solidity and firmness while also suggesting motion or transformation. As a counterpoint to water, the designers chose the material as a nod to the sandy shoreline that surrounds the island.
One Plus Partnership’s large-scale projects often emphasize clean lines, modern materials, and sculptural forms. Explore more on the studio’s website and Instagram.
