MINOR lab Reimagines the Fushan Coffee Shop in Haikou
Edited by Kanesa David — April 17, 2026 — Art & Design
This article was written with the assistance of AI.
References: minorlab.info & retaildesignblog.net
MINOR lab redesigned Fushan Coffee’s two-story retail building in Haikou, Hainan, creating a site-specific coffee venue featuring volcanic-red sculptural walls and a glass street façade. The project preserved the original concrete frame and added a corrugated aluminum canopy that forms a sheltered threshold and improves visual connection with the street.
Inside, the ground floor reads as a "Sculptural Field" where three curved masonry walls carve zones and three continuous steel tables thread through openings, while a counter serves traditional Fushan coffee brewed in tin pots. A modular aluminum profile system integrates lighting and display, and the restrained exterior keeps a friendly, approachable street presence.
The upper floor functions as a coffee laboratory centered on a roasting machine, cupping table and barista training, blending production and public programming. By foregrounding local materials, production processes and social interactions, the redesign turns everyday coffee rituals into a spatial narrative that ties the brand to regional heritage and experiential retail trends.
Image Credit: MINOR lab
Inside, the ground floor reads as a "Sculptural Field" where three curved masonry walls carve zones and three continuous steel tables thread through openings, while a counter serves traditional Fushan coffee brewed in tin pots. A modular aluminum profile system integrates lighting and display, and the restrained exterior keeps a friendly, approachable street presence.
The upper floor functions as a coffee laboratory centered on a roasting machine, cupping table and barista training, blending production and public programming. By foregrounding local materials, production processes and social interactions, the redesign turns everyday coffee rituals into a spatial narrative that ties the brand to regional heritage and experiential retail trends.
Image Credit: MINOR lab
Trend Themes
1. Site-specific Experiential Design - Designs that embed local materials and narratives into spatial layouts create immersive brand experiences that shift retail from transactional to culturally resonant destinations.
2. Production-forward Retail - Retail spaces that expose and integrate onsite production like roasting or making introduce transparent supply chains that transform consumer trust and engagement.
3. Modular Integrated Fixtures - Flexible aluminum-profile systems and continuous furnishings enable rapid reconfiguration of displays and lighting, supporting adaptive programming and lowered renovation cycles.
Industry Implications
1. Specialty Coffee Retail - Cafés that combine ritual-driven brewing, visible roasting, and training labs offer differentiated customer experiences that can command premium pricing and foster community loyalty.
2. Commercial Architecture and Interior Design - Architects and designers focused on local-material narratives and modular systems can deliver high-value, site-responsive renovations that extend brand storytelling into built form.
3. Retail Fixtures and Lighting Manufacturing - Producers of modular aluminum profiles and integrated lighting solutions can enable faster, scalable fit-outs that support experiential retail models and reduce total cost of ownership.
3.3
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
