PRISM / HCCH Studio

Program: Coffee and Reading Space Renovation in an Office Warehouse
Architects: HCCH Studio
Area: 300 m²
Year: 2021
Photographs: Qingyan Zhu
Partners in Charge: Chenchen Hu, Hao Chen
Design Team: Yi Gao, Yazhou Ding, Qi Deng
City: Minhang District, Shanghai
Country: China

PRISM, a 300 m² coffee and reading space renovation in an office warehouse, was designed by HCCH Studio in the Minhang District of Shanghai. Completed in 2021, the project transforms the atrium into a dual-purpose space for reading and education. The design introduces four cantilevered plastic prisms that enhance vertical circulation and connectivity within the atrium. The use of polycarbonate panels and strategic lighting contributes to a futuristic atmosphere, reflecting the innovative and exploratory spirit of the enterprise.

In PRISM, polycarbonate panels are stacked horizontally with edges exposed. The panels are offset on their edge one to another, which helps to avoid aligning material while generating a visual effect recalling masonry. The plastic masonry is lit from within, amplifying its shiny and floating materiality and futuristic atmosphere.
Interview with Hao Chen and Chenchen Hu of HCCH Studio

PRISM by HCCH Studio is set within a high-tech campus office warehouse in Shanghai. The project seeks to revamp the existing atrium, turning it into a versatile space that serves both as a reading area for staff and as an educational environment for primary school students.

Initially, the atrium lacked vertical circulation, with rooms on different levels disconnected. To resolve this, the design incorporates a series of distinctive micro-spaces to enhance vertical movement and connectivity. Four plastic prisms were introduced, each cantilevered from a single column, similar to an umbrella structure. These prisms are structurally and visually independent of the existing building, creating a floating effect. Steps connect the prisms to surrounding levels, fostering a dynamic, engaging environment that promotes exploration and intimate reading spaces.

The prisms are constructed using polycarbonate panels stacked horizontally with exposed and offset edges. This design avoids direct alignment, creating a unique visual effect reminiscent of masonry. The panels are internally lit, enhancing their shiny, floating appearance and contributing to the space’s futuristic feel.

Light panels above the atrium provide even illumination to the prisms, contrasting with the darker surrounding space. The design consciously moves away from a traditional cozy reading environment, instead reflecting the enterprise’s curiosity and pioneering spirit.