Zhu Shi Design Studio · CLIENT: Zhu Shi Design Studio
Ace Play Sport is a retail space for badminton equipment, set in a 50-year-old shophouse in Taiwan. The interior of 70 square meters has a narrow plan with daylight from one side only. An angled ceiling starts at the arcade and guides visitors inward. A hollow arched display island anchors the central zone. Unfinished birch plywood brings warmth and low emissions, while matte metallic paint and polished tiles suggest speed. A light-diffusing membrane ceiling spreads an even glow. The design links badminton heritage with contemporary retail.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The design extends beyond the interior, beginning at the arcade where a sharply angled ceiling guides the eye inward like a shuttlecock slicing through air. The brand logo, placed subtly along the angled plane, lets badminton's imagery define identity. Inside, silver-toned metal and sweeping curves evoke speed, shaping an immersive retail experience. A hollow arched display island, inspired by shuttlecock rhythm, anchors the space. Flanking walls contrast past and future: a warm wooden pegboard versus sleek silver finishes, uniting tradition with modernity.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The 70m2 shophouse features a narrow layout with daylight from only one side. To align with the theme of motion, the designer restructured the plan to guide a sense of speed from the arcade inward. The windowless central zone became the main display and interaction area, drawing visitors deeper inside. A light membrane ceiling expands vertical space, brightening the axis and easing the enclosure. At the far end, a soft staircase turn veiled with sheer curtains gently shapes sightlines and flow, echoing badminton's balance of speed and rhythm.
- Tags
- Street house, badminton, beveled ceilings, wood tone, silver tone, speed, eco-friendly building materials, sports.
- Production Technology
- The space is defined by the contrast of warm wood and cool silver. Natural birch plywood, left unfinished to reveal its grain, brings warmth while minimizing VOCs. Silver tones appear in matte metallic paint and polished tiles, shaping light flow with a modern edge. The palette blends cool whites and natural wood, balanced by daylight and a light-diffusing membrane ceiling that casts an even glow. Under this soft illumination, the environment feels calm and refined, where human warmth and technological precision meet in quiet dialogue.
- Design Challenge
- The project's main challenge was to stand out among a row of uniform old shophouses. Instead of bold signage or lightboxes, the designer chose a restrained approach, creating identity through an angled ceiling, shuttlecock-inspired display island, and triangular markers. These elements form a distinct yet subtle language, resisting retail cliches. Passersby are drawn by interior brightness and thoughtful contrasts, not spectacle. The space asserts quiet confidence, breathing new rhythm and purpose into the 50-year-old structure.
- Project Duration
- The project finished in December 2024 in Taiwan.
- Operation Flow
- Since opening, AcePlay Sport has reshaped the community's view of sports retail. Even those outside its target demographic are drawn in, first pausing at the bench under the arcade, then entering, intrigued by the inviting atmosphere. The design aligns closely with the brand's identity, boosting both traffic and return rates. Instead of a hard sell, products are presented with subtle rhythm, blending heritage and innovation. This approach attracts diverse visitors and transforms shopping into an immersive, memorable experience.
- Research
- Housed in a 50-year-old shophouse, the project fuses badminton culture with contemporary design to create an immersive retail experience. Dynamic spatial elements, refined materials, and atmospheric lighting reimagine the sports store as a stage for cultural storytelling. At Ace Play Sport, woodgrain with growth rings conveys heritage and warmth, while matte metallic finishes express speed and innovation. Their harmony embodies badminton's dual nature, tradition, and evolution, shaping a retail space with both cultural depth and forward vision.
- Inspiration
- The project showcases and sells badminton equipment yet avoids the typical showroom aesthetic, instead embracing a human-centered, cultural approach. With origins in the 18th century, badminton carries both history and graceful rhythm. The design honors this heritage by reinterpreting materials and space through time and speed. Set in a 50-year-old shophouse, wood evokes tradition while silver suggests speed and technology. Their dialogue creates a refined stage that transcends commerce, narrating the cultural and aesthetic spirit of badminton.
- Image Credits
- Zhu Shi Design Studio
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