YPYC Architects has used pastel pink and white surfaces with glass bricks to build this tiny patisserie in Hangzhou, China. Measuring just 40 square meters, the N² patisserie is located on a quiet city street with a south-facing facade. In order to shield the interior from the street outside, YPYC Architects chose to install a wall of glass bricks across the storefront, to blur the view while also filtering and diffusing the direct sunlight.
“The facade of the patisserie is facing south but the view is not quite nice, some local stores were across the street from the patisserie, so we decided to design a translucent interface which blurs the direct view across the street but keeps the sunlight,” explains the studio. “We wanted to create a very intimate and tender eating experience.”
Inside, a row of curved seating with charcoal upholstery is recessed into one of the patisserie’s walls, creating an undulating effect. “Different from the clean-cut storefront, the curve is the main language of interior space,” the studio explained. “This can be seen in a series of wall seats on the left, and a round edge counter/cabinet at the front.”
On the opposite side of the shop, behind the curved pink terrazzo counter, the architects installed a grid of square lights that sit flush with the wall. “The obscure pink glow from the acrylic becomes a very interesting element in the space,” they said. The kitchen is located at the back of the space. Here the ceiling curves fall down and automatically become the division between kitchen and dining area, only left decorating room pops out from a misty white.
