Newly launched iced lemon drinks brand introlemons comes from cosmetics retailer HARMAY‘s fold, and very similarly, it’s wooing clients not only with coveted products, but also with an alluring design-led retail concept. The café in Beijing‘s hipster shopping zone of Sanlitun, the brand’s very first, has been designed by Shanghai-based design practice Non Studio. From afar, customers can see the the café’s outdoor terrace dotted with undulating volumes, clad in bright yellow lemon-shaped tiles and metal, which anchor shiny metal discs which serve as seating and tables. Interestingly, the striking wavy element of the terrace extends indoor across a large part of the 150 sqm. (1,615 sq.ft.) premises, giving it a distinct edge. Needless to say, the lemon-shaped tiles cover the café’s entire floor, in addition to a side wall.
A pristine white rectangular box, detached from the ceiling, accommodates a service station which is covered in glass printed with a dot pattern, creating a playful semi-opaque effect, allowing customers in the lounge alongside peeks of the intricate art of lemon tea-making. The pickup windows and service counter are positioned in the back. Mind you, these windows are intentionally small and narrow, allowing customers to see the hands staff members, and making the product the centre of attention. As said, the café floor is undulating, and this is a nod to the romantic notion of a hillside tea garden. The lounge is dotted with clustered tall tables and low stools, and a yet another type of furniture—a tray unit which, after being seated, can be attached to a steel rod, becoming a cup-holder. The introlemons café exclusively serves iced tea drinks, using lemons from the region around Zhanjiang in the far south of the country.
introlemons
2 Gongti Bei Lu, Building 4, Shop 106 (Sanlitun)
100027 Beijing
Telephone: +86 130 51899676
Daily 9am-10pm
Publishers Note
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