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Liao Liao One Cup Кафуле by Zhijiang Shan and Fan Li

Liao Liao One Cup Кафуле by Zhijiang Shan and Fan Li is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Бронзена награда A' Design Award in Дизајн на архитектура, градби и конструкции Competition Category.


БронзенаАрхитектура· 2026

Liao Liao One Cup Кафуле

by Zhijiang Shan and Fan Li

Client: R&J Design

Бронзена награда A' Design Award Winner in Архитектура Category

Colors

The Design

About Liao Liao One Cup Кафуле

Liao Liao One Cup е приземен кафе-павилјон изграден покрај Музејот на Лојанг во Лојанг, Кина. Зградата применува принципи на пасивна куќа за да ја намали потребата од механичко ладење. Брановидната линија на покривот, инспирирана од античката река Луо, го провлекува воздухот низ внатрешноста со отворен план и ја претставува главната архитектонска карактеристика. Атмосферски обработен кортен челик и огледално полиран нерѓосувачки челик ја обложуваат изложената челична конструкција, отстранувајќи ја потребата од дополнителни завршни обработки. Таванот од необработен камен обезбедува термичка маса, а застаклувањето од под до таван внесува дневна светлина.

The Recognition

About the Бронзена награда A' Design Award

Liao Liao One Cup Кафуле е добитник на Бронзената награда A' Design Award, високо престижно признание што се доделува на извонредни дизајни што се одликуваат со креативност, генијалност и лукавост. Бронзените добитници се доволно вешти и воодушевувачки креативни творби што го потврдуваат огромното искуство, имагинација и снаодливост на нивните дизајнери. Се очекува Liao Liao One Cup Кафуле да биде високо ценет, восхитуван и сакан предмет, значајно професионален и иновативен. Овој дизајн со Бронзена награда ги вклучува најдобрите практики во уметноста, науката, дизајнот и технологијата и се одликува со внимание кон деталите. Liao Liao One Cup Кафуле одлично ги задоволува потребите, ги допира желбите, ги маѓепсува чувствата и ја буди љубопитноста.

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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