250-Square-Foot Aerated Coffee Bar with Greenery and Book Nooks

Looking for a coffee shop that feels more like a quiet retreat than a commercial space? Many coffee lovers today seek environments that go beyond just a good brew—places that offer calm, clean air, and a sense of connection to nature. This 250-square-foot café in Hebei delivers exactly that, combining greenery, modular design, and cozy reading corners into a rejuvenating experience.

This coffee bar is designed as a 250-square-foot oxygen-rich space filled with live plants, wooden textures, and modular shelving that also functions as room dividers, seating, and display units—all aimed at bringing nature indoors.

Project Overview: A Café Designed Around Nature

The project is called (Hong Coffee), located in Zhuozhou, Hebei. It covers 250 square feet and functions as a dining space. Designed by PENDA , the firm is led by Chris Precht and Sun Dayong. Known for integrating natural elements and local context into modern architecture, PENDA aimed to create a café that doubles as a natural oxygen bar.

The design team—Chris Precht and Sun Dayong—focused on creating a space where visitors could enjoy coffee while breathing fresh air. Their goal was to merge architecture with nature, using materials like raw concrete, wood, and steel, alongside living plants.

Design Philosophy and Team Background

PENDA, founded in 2012, explores the depth and social relevance of design. The studio often works with rough materials, natural textures, and digital or traditional techniques. Their designs frequently draw from regional characteristics and the beauty of organic forms.

Chris Precht, who studied at Innsbruck University and holds a master’s from Vienna University of Technology, has won multiple international awards. Sun Dayong previously worked with Graft and Tsinghua University. His graduate thesis won accolades at the Central Academy of Fine Arts and led to international collaborations.

Key Interior Design Elements

The café’s standout feature is its greenhouse-like interior built around a grid of repurposed steel beams. These beams form a flexible framework that supports plants, shelving, lighting, and seating—all modular and multifunctional.

1. Modular Shelving System: The steel grid holds adjustable shelving that serves as bookshelves, planters, dividers, and ambient lighting supports. The system blurs the line between furniture and architecture.

2. Indoor Greenery: Plants like pothos, spider plants, and sword ferns climb the steel structure. Over time, they’ll partially cover the beams, creating a evolving green focal point.

3. Natural Light & Spatial Depth: Large floor-to-ceiling windows and light green curtains enhance brightness. Strategic placement of the grid divides the compact 250-square-foot space into zones without closing them off.

4. Material Mix: Rough concrete walls contrast with smooth wooden tables and leather chairs. A mix of wooden and concrete flooring adds texture and warmth.

5. Seating Variety: The space includes plush sofas, minimalistic tables, and a compact yet functional bar counter to accommodate different customer preferences.

6. Aesthetic Details: Textured cement walls echo the industrial feel of the steel. Delicate ballet patterns soften the hard surfaces. The wooden and green color palette creates a serene, nostalgic mood.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the size of the coffee bar featured in the article?

The coffee bar is 250 square feet (approximately 23 square meters), located in Zhuozhou, Hebei. Despite its compact size, it incorporates a variety of functional zones including seating, greenery, and reading spaces.

Who designed the aerated coffee bar and where is it located?

The coffee bar, named (Hong Coffee), was designed by PENDA , an architecture and design firm based in China. The lead designers are Chris Precht and Sun Dayong. The café is located in Zhuozhou, Hebei Province.

What makes this coffee bar an 'oxygen bar' or 'aerated' space?

The café is designed with a large number of indoor plants climbing along a modular steel grid. This vegetation, along with the use of natural materials and large windows, aims to create a fresh, oxygen-rich environment similar to a greenhouse or natural oxygen bar.

What are the main materials used in the interior design?

The main materials include raw steel beams, concrete (both rough and polished), natural wood, and leather. The steel forms a structural grid that supports modular shelving and greenery, while wood and concrete add warmth and texture.

How does the modular shelving function in the café?

The modular steel shelving works as a multi-use element: it holds books, accommodates potted plants, supports lighting, and acts as room dividers or decorative screens. Its flexible design allows for spatial fluidity and functional variety in a small footprint.

Which design firms or architects were involved in this project?

The project was designed by PENDA , with Chris Precht and Sun Dayong as the lead designers. PENDA is known for blending natural and architectural elements, and both principals have extensive backgrounds in architecture and design innovation.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for a Green Café Atmosphere

For a coffee bar with natural light, indoor plants, and a calm atmosphere, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera for bright floral and citrus notes, their Yirgacheffe for juicy berry and stone fruit tones, or the Classic Blend for a balanced medium roast with nutty sweetness. Each highlights freshness—just like the oxygen-rich design of this space. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.