Bronze Interior Space and Exhibition Design · 2020
Revival Cafe
by Pei-Yu Yen
- A' Design Award 2020 Bronze Winner in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
- Awarded April 15, 2020
- CLIENT: Tetto Creative Design Co.,Ltd.
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 32,213
- Verification code F0BB844598 · Verify this award
About Revival Cafe
Revival cafe is located at Tainan Art Museum, Taiwan. The space it occupied used to be the Tainan Main Police Station during the Japanese colonial period, which is now designated as a city heritage for its historical significance and unique mixture of various architectural styles and elements such as eclecticism and art deco. The cafe inherits the experimental spirit of the heritage, presenting a modern case of how the old and the new can interact with each other harmoniously. Visitors could also enjoy their coffee and begin their own dialogue with the past of the building.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- This project is an embodiment of the emerging enthusiasm for heritage reuse. The main building was established in 1931, serving as the Tainan Police Station during the Japanese colonial period. It is now designated as a heritage by Tainan city, and becomes part of Tainan Art Museum.
The cafe is located at the intersection between the old building and the new extension. The cafe therefore exhibits how the past and future can inspire each other. - Dimensions & Packaging
- Curved chairs 1 (6 persons each side): height (cushion included) 50 cm, length 8 m, radius 4 m
Curved chairs 2 (5 persons each side): height (cushion included) 50 cm, length 6.5 m, radius 3.8 m
Curved chairs 3 (3 persons each side): height (cushion included) 50 cm, length 4.5 m, radius 2.5 m
Curved chairs 4 (2 persons each side): height (cushion included) 50 cm, length 3 m, radius 1.5 m - Tags
- Cafe, heritage, eclecticism, museum
- Production Technology
- Due to the regulations of heritage protection, there were a number of challenges during the completion of the project. For example, all of the tables and chairs must be pre-made in the factory before they were installed in the cafe. Another challenge came from the wavy design of the chairs for the cafe and the uneven ground of the building itself – the installation required cautious measurement and adjustment to make sure all of the pieces were in order.
- Design Challenge
- The most challenging part of the project is related to its heritage status. Due to the regulations in Taiwan, all of the main structure of a heritage should not be altered this includes the ceiling, floor, and the wall. Besides, the irregular shape of the space also creates extra challenge to the project.
To overcome these challenges, extensive research on the history of the building and the architectural style during the colonial period was conducting. Eventually, the space becomes a highly flexible commercial space which brings the best out of the buildings singular design. - Project Duration
- December 2018, Initial design and planning
March 2019, renovation of the space began
June 2019, formal operation of the cafe
Location: Tainan, Taiwan - Operation Flow
- The space utilised by the cafe used to be a detention centre. Coldness was the very first impression this space gives to its visitor.
To bring in the warmth to transform the chilly past of the space, the design emphasises on enhancing the interaction with the greenery outside of the cafe. - Research
- The research of the interior design of the cafe mainly focuses on the Japanese architecture style after Meiji revolution, especially the style employed by Japanese architects working in Taiwan during the colonial period.
- Inspiration
- The design is inspired by the talented Japanese architects bold design and experimental spirit. The Tainan Police Station was an interesting attempt of eclecticism, which brought in influence of Art Deco style and local materials in a unique way that was not let any particular architectural style dominate the dialogue.
Echoing the idea of eclecticism and the colonial past, the interior design is featured by curves to connect the whole space and old-fashioned velvet green embellished with bronze gold, presenting a harmonic fusion of the new and the old. - Image Credits
- Main image is Image #1: Photographer Rondo Wei, 2019.
Image #2: Photographer Rondo Wei, 2019.
Image #3: Photographer Rondo Wei, 2019.
Image #4: Photographer Rondo Wei, 2019.
Image #5: Photographer Peggy Yen, 2020.
Colors of Revival Cafe
Design Interview about Revival Cafe
There are many issues we have to consider while preparing for a design project. To make a good design possible, we have to think about the building, environment, the user’s character, and so forth.
The design of the Revival Cafe, for example, is under the constraints such as the expectation from the art museum and the building’s heritage status. One cannot begin the design without taking these conditions seriously.
The design of the Revival Cafe, for example, is under the constraints such as the expectation from the art museum and the building’s heritage status. One cannot begin the design without taking these conditions seriously.
I wanted to bring in a style that cannot be defined, a style that can respect the building’s heritage status and also echo the modernity of the new art museum. I want to use this cafe to demonstrate how a dialogue between the past and the future and also between the East and the West can be possible.
I will share this news with people who are involved with this project and announce this news to the general public.
The concept itself took around a week and the drafting was about one day.
The design was commissioned, but the client left plenty of room for me to decide the style of the cafe.
This is an interior design project which will only be used in this cafe.
The constraints on the floor area and space turned out pushing me to come out with interesting design.
Shigeru Ban and Joe Shih.
public sector
The conditions related to the space are what make the design unique.
It’s mainly from the special constraints and status of this project – a café that bears the memory of the past but has to serve for the customers who look for the future. This reminds me of the Chinese idiom from the Analects, new knowledge can be discovered from reviewing what one has known. For me, the cafe is like an instance of revitalization, and hence Revival Cafe.
The most unique part of the interior design is the the curve shaped chairs of different size that brought in smooth movement and beautifully solved the challenges such as the irregular flooring area and multiple entrances. They also offer the visitor of the cafe opportunities to enjoy the details of the heritage from different angles.
The design was solely done by me, but the construction was outsourced to other professionals.
The most challenging part of the project is related to its heritage status. Due to the regulations in Taiwan, all of the main structure of a heritage should not be altered – this includes the ceiling, floor, and the wall. Besides, the irregular shape of the space also creates extra challenge to the project.
Besides, the construction must not be in conflicts with the art museum’s opening hours; it also be very carefully planned so as the collections in the museum won’t be damaged by the construction. This was part of the reason many of the interior decorations had to be done outside the building and then assembled in the room later on. It’s really challenging to move around huge pieces in a heritage.
Besides, the construction must not be in conflicts with the art museum’s opening hours; it also be very carefully planned so as the collections in the museum won’t be damaged by the construction. This was part of the reason many of the interior decorations had to be done outside the building and then assembled in the room later on. It’s really challenging to move around huge pieces in a heritage.
I want to share my hard work with others and hopefully gain some opportunities for future collaboration.
It gave me a priceless opportunity to have an in-depth research on the traditional methods people used for constructing architecture in Taiwan. Without knowledge like how to keep the terrazzo floor’s horizon levelled, I wouldn’t have been able to overcome the challenges I faced during the implantation of my design.