Excerpt: Jingle Jungle Creative Coffee by TSPACE Design embodies a “curated commercial” approach, a design concept that blends nature and art to reshape coffee culture. Located in the Shanghai World Expo Cultural Park, the space integrates plants, light, and modular architecture to create an immersive, flexible environment. More than a café, it becomes a living, ecological space that feels “peaceful and alive,” connecting people, culture, and nature.
Project Description
[Text as submitted by architect] Jingle Jungle Creative Coffee, located in the greenhouse garden of the Shanghai World Expo Cultural Park, is another great example of TSPACE’s “curated commercial”approach. The designers used a curatorial design approach to create an immersive space that brings nature and art together, differentiating the brand in Shanghai’s highly competitive coffee market. The design of the space changes how people think about and experience coffee culture.
1. Curated Functional Architecture: The original building’s spacious design and rugged industrial features offered both challenges and opportunities for the project. Instead of using traditional walls, the designers chose flowing wooden low walls and modular display racks to create a space that feels both open and organized. The plant installations at the entrance and the creative exhibition square blend together, marking the start of the commercial transformation while also telling a cultural story. The space is designed to grow organically: the modular racks can be rearranged to update product displays, and the central area can be quickly changed into a conference or event space by moving the coffee cart and adjusting the seating. This flexibility is key to balancing the space’s function and aesthetic appeal.
As visitors move further into the space, it shifts from a lively social area to a more immersive experience. The central bar turns coffee-making into a “mini-show,” with the interaction between the barista and customers becoming the heart of the space. The winding low walls and plants naturally divide the area, blending with the curved seating, so that the line between function and art becomes unclear. The display racks by the glass walls combine product displays with resting areas, guiding visitors into a relaxing jungle-themed lounge. This design not only makes the space more efficient but also leads people from simply interacting to feeling emotionally involved, with the flow of the space helping tell a story.
2. Establishing the Ecological Atmosphere System: While the functional design sets up the basic structure of the space, the ecological elements add life and energy. The designers combined materials, lighting, and plants to turn the space into a lively, nature-inspired environment. The large glass walls break down the barrier between the inside and outside, letting natural light flow in, which is filtered through the plants and creates moving light patterns on the concrete walls.
Big plants, like Fiddle Leaf Figs, draw attention with their wide leaves, while the tall Dragon Trees act as the backbone of the space. Smaller plants and vines add movement and a touch of wild beauty, creating a layered, nature-filled atmosphere. The soft curves of the cactus-shaped sofas and wooden seating add a comfortable and inviting feel to the space.
The mix of natural light, the calming presence of plants, and the cozy textures of the furniture makes the space feel both “peaceful and alive.” It’s a perfect spot for people to relax, sip on coffee, and either unwind by themselves or socialize. The space isn’t just for functional use anymore; it becomes a peaceful place where people in the city can reconnect with nature.
3. Exploring the Growth Potential of Space: TSPACE’s main strength is the deep understanding of both the location and the brand. This helps them create custom themes and storytelling that fit perfectly with the space. From using simple shapes or the play of light and shadow to create a special atmosphere, to this Jingle Jungle project, the design team brought out the site’s natural qualities and turned the idea of “ecological balance” into the main theme driving the design. This shows their fresh approach to creating unique commercial spaces.
The designers didn’t use overdone symbols of nature. Instead, they incorporated plants, light, and airflow into the space’s design, making them a natural part of how the space functions and feels. This approach gives the space a “growth potential”—it can breathe, evolve, and stay closely connected to its environment, telling its own unique stories over time.
TSPACE’s approach to curated commercial design stands out because they created a space that feels “alive.” The modular display systems and flexible plant arrangements make the space adaptable to seasonal changes, events, and the natural rhythms of the plants. This method goes beyond traditional design, giving the space the ability to adjust and stay lively. It’s sustainable not only because it uses natural elements to save energy, but because the design allows commercial activities to blend with the space’s natural flow. The ecological idea comes to life in a way that’s easy to experience, creating a place that’s not only good for business but also a unique spot that connects the city with nature and has a vibrant, lively atmosphere.
The curated commercial design by TSPACE creates unique value for brands, rethinking how users engage with spaces, and giving the space a human touch. In a highly homogenized market, it’s this kind of design thinking that helps a brand go beyond being just a place to make transactions. Instead, it becomes a medium for cultural connection, emotional bonds, and a promoter of sustainable living. Brands don’t need to chase popularity. By telling a genuine story and creating a meaningful space in the noisy city, the brand’s unique soul quietly takes shape.
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