Liao Liao One Cup Kaffihús by Zhijiang Shan and Fan Li is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award í bronsi in Arkitektúr, bygginga- og mannvirkjahönnun Competition Category.
BronsArkitektúr· 2026
Liao Liao One Cup Kaffihús
Client: R&J Design
A' Design Award í bronsi Winner in Arkitektúr Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #180902The Design
About Liao Liao One Cup Kaffihús
Liao Liao One Cup er kaffihúsaskáli á einni hæð sem byggður var við hlið Luoyang-safnsins í Luoyang í Kína. Byggingin nýtir meginreglur óvirkra húsa (passive house) til að draga úr þörf fyrir vélræna kælingu. Bylgjandi þaklína, innblásin af hinni fornu Luo-á, dregur loft í gegnum opið innra rými og myndar helsta byggingarlistareinkenni hússins. Veðrað Corten-stál og spegilfægt ryðfrítt stál klæða sýnilega stálgrindina og gera aukna yfirborðsáferð óþarfa. Loft úr óunnum steini veitir varmarýmd og gólfsíð gluggagler hleypir inn dagsbirtu.
The Recognition
About the A' Design Award í bronsi
Liao Liao One Cup Kaffihús vann A' Design Award í bronsi, mjög virta viðurkenningu sem veitt er framúrskarandi hönnunarverkum sem einkennast af sköpunargáfu, hugvitssemi og skarpskyggni. Sigurvegarar í bronsi eru ríkulega leiknir og áberandi skapandi gripir sem staðfesta víðtæka reynslu, ímyndunarafl og útsjónarsemi hönnuða sinna. Þess er vænst að Liao Liao One Cup Kaffihús sé mjög metinn, dáður og elskaður hlutur sem er einstaklega fagmannlegur og nýstárlegur. Þetta hönnunarverk sem vann A' Design Award í bronsi felur í sér bestu starfsvenjur í list, vísindum, hönnun og tækni og er framúrskarandi fyrir athygli sína á smáatriðum. Liao Liao One Cup Kaffihús fullnægir þörfum á dásamlegan hátt, snertir langanir, heillar tilfinningar og vekur forvitni.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- This cafe pioneers passive house application in commercial hospitality, using the undulating roofline as both environmental system and cultural landmark. Natural ventilation replaces mechanical cooling while Corten steel and mirror-polished stainless steel create a bold material vocabulary. Adjacent to a major museum, the design establishes a new architectural identity for sustainable public gathering spaces in heritage contexts, proving innovation and cultural resonance can coexist.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Single-story cafe pavilion featuring passive ventilation roofline, weathered Corten steel and mirror-polished stainless steel cladding, exposed steel structural framework, raw stone thermal mass ceiling, and floor-to-ceiling low-E glazing. Climate-responsive roof geometry optimized for natural airflow and daylight penetration. Minimal mechanical cooling systems required.
- Tags
- Cafe, passive house, sustainability, cultural landmark, Corten steel, innovation, Luoyang Museum, Luo River, natural ventilation, heritage, green architecture, climate responsive
- Production Technology
- The undulating roofline integrates passive house engineering with sculptural fabrication. Corten steel panels and mirror-polished stainless steel were precision-formed to optimize natural airflow patterns derived from computational climate analysis. Exposed structural frameworks eliminate the need for secondary finishes, reducing material waste. Raw stone ceiling textures provide thermal mass for passive temperature regulation. The entire construction strategy prioritizes long-term environmental performance alongside minimal site intervention.
- Design Challenge
- The core challenge was threefold: achieving passive house performance through architectural form alone, creating a recognizable cultural landmark adjacent to a major heritage institution, and proving these goals are complementary rather than contradictory. The resolution embedded environmental function within the sculptural roofline, allowing a single design element to serve as climate system, cultural symbol, and brand identity simultaneously.
- Research
- This project advances passive house application beyond residential typology into public commercial architecture. The roofline functions simultaneously as cultural landmark and environmental system, demonstrating that climate-responsive innovation can generate architectural identity rather than constrain it. Situated in a heritage district, the design proposes a replicable model for sustainable cultural landmarks that honor context through contrast rather than imitation.
- Inspiration
- Situated beside the Luoyang Museum, this project was inspired by the challenge of creating a new cultural landmark that advances sustainable building practice. The sculptural roofline channels the ancient Luo River, embedding climate-responsive innovation within cultural symbolism. The vision was to prove that passive house principles can define the next generation of public architecture in heritage districts, where environmental innovation and cultural identity reinforce each other.
- Project Duration
- Completed adjacent to Luoyang Museum, Luoyang, Henan Province, China in 2025
- Operation Flow
- The passive ventilation system shapes the visitor experience from arrival. The roofline draws air naturally through the open-plan interior, creating thermal comfort without mechanical noise. Floor-to-ceiling glazing connects visitors to the museum landscape while maximizing daylight, reducing energy consumption. Material transitions from raw Corten to polished steel guide movement through zones of varying intimacy, each defined by sustainable material honesty rather than decorative excess.
- Team Members
- Designers: Zhijiang Shan, Fan Li
- Image Credits
- Photo: Wei Zhao
Video: Zimo Shan
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