Pop-Up Café and Bakery in China by F.O.G. Architecture

In China, F.O.G. Architecture has designed the Cycle Cycle mobile bakehouse – a pop-up café with an integrated bakery. The temporary building will be set up in various Chinese cities to explore the relationship between food and land. The use of the small café will be documented. The observations will be used to adapt the modular structure to the needs of the people each time it is moved.

The modular construction is mainly made of wood and a facade of grain sacks.. © Inspace

The 18 m² building is made of wood. The façade is made from sacks of grain, stacked like bricks. The textiles also provide a comfortable backrest for the protruding plinth, which in turn can be used as a low bench. Wooden openings between the sacks allow fresh air and natural light to enter the café. Visitors can also observe internal processes such as the preparation of coffee or the packaging of pastries from the outside.

The barn-like structure is reminiscent of Chinese rural architecture. A ladder attached to the side symbolises a straw shed for resting and leads up to the rainproof roof. Hinged wooden panels at the front and rear provide shade. Curtains attached to the rear shading panels provide a more private space.

A semi-private space can be created at the back using shading panels and curtains. © Inspace

The prefabricated, modular structure allows the pop-up café to be set up quickly and flexibly in different locations. During assembly, the team of architects and builders deliberately decided not to use a site fence to allow passers-by to participate in the creation of the structure. For example, the placement of the sacks of grain was determined intuitively through teamwork. The aim of the project is to create a new public space in an urban environment that maximises flexibility, mobility and engagement.