Dezeen Magazine

Michael Young x Dezeen cafe and bar at Design Shanghaiv

Dezeen teams up with Design Shanghai to present cafe and bar designed by Michael Young

Dezeen has partnered with Design Shanghai to present a cafe and bar designed by Michael Young at the 2021 edition of the trade show, which opened in Shanghai this week.

The cafe and bar is located at booth K207 in Hall 2 at Design Shanghai 2021, which takes place at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, China, until 6 June.

The space features grey corrugated walls with splashes of colour and is furnished with previews of furniture pieces designed by Young that will be launched later in the year.

Michael Young x Dezeen cafe and bar at Design Shanghai
Dezeen has partnered with Design Shanghai to present a cafe and bar designed by Michael Young

According to Young, the concept for the space is loosely based on a bar he created last year at his office in Shekou, Shenzhen.

"I ended up with an opportunity to create a bar last year beneath our studio but with only a few weeks to build the concept I decided to throw in anything I could get hold of – samples, prototypes and things from the studio that we have collected from around the world," the Hong Kong-based British designer told Dezeen.

"I basically scavenged the studio together like a magpie so it became a real beer shack and a place that was not designed but created organically."

The bar has grey walls
The bar features ribbed walls with splashes of colour and pattern

Citta Design has contributed pieces of Young's new Acre Chair for the New Zealand brand, which will be launched in Auckland in September. The space is also furnished with new editions of Young's Stool 4a for EOQ Design, which will be launched in December.

The bar is being used to launch Young's new drinks brand Beer Buddy, which developed a new pilsner called House for the event.

The beer brand is specifically designed to connect creatives at events, trade shows and gatherings around Asia. Drinkers can scan a QR code on the beer packaging to connect with other creatives attending the event.

It is serving Beer Buddy
Young is launching his new Beer Buddy drinks brand at the bar

The dark grey exterior walls of the space are decorated with swirling patterns based on the graphics on the Beer Buddy cans and bottles.

Colourful versions of this pattern have been used to add splashes of colour to the interior walls and enclose private seating areas.

The space is co-branded with Young's studio logo and the Chinese version of Dezeen's logo. The walls also feature the QR code for people to follow Dezeen's official WeChat account, which features news and features about the latest architecture, design and interiors written in Simplified Chinese.

Michael Young x Dezeen cafe and bar at Design Shanghai
The interior and exterior of the bar features swirling patterns based on the Beer Buddy packaging

Dezeen is a media partner for Design Shanghai 2021.

The show presents over 400 local and international brands across eight different sections alongside a programme of installations, exhibitions and the return of its annual talks programme, which this year explores the topic of regenerative design.

Design Shanghai takes place from 3 to 6 June at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.