Xinzhai Coffee Manor, designed by TAO architectural studio is located in Lujiangba, Yunnan Province, a place known worldwide for its Arabic coffee. The site is located between two panoramic views: of the Lujiangba area and the Nuijiang valley to the north
Bricks, courtyards, lush trees. Renovation of a building dating back to the 80s
The renovation and expansion of the building into a multifunctional complex is designed to house a coffee store, processing and tasting areas and a museum to provide visitors with a unique experience of its kind
Two courtyards, lush trees, an abandoned cinema all characterize the site, together with grey bricks from the 1980s, which were used to construct most of the buildings in the adjacent villages. With the passage of time, the masonry has become the dominant method of construction in the place
The new building is connected to the old one through a series of corridors, which form three different courtyards: a central one, a tree-lined one and a "submerged" one. The working areas can be reached through the corridors from the central courtyard, and the whole complex is similar to a monastery
The old cinema which has been transformed into a coffee museum is reminiscent of a cathedral in a monastery. The coffee storage space is located on a lower level and is characterized by cross vaults that represent the same space as a cellar. The coffee processing space is on an intermediate level and combines brick vaults and steel beams: an open and continuous space overlooking the panorama of the valley
The side corridors permit visitors to walk around the place. On the upper level there is a reinforced concrete structure that houses hotel rooms overlooking the valley. Bricks and concrete are the key materials of the structure: the heaviness of the brick construction is integrated with the lightness of the concrete structure
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