Highly commended: Bar and cafe interior of the year 2025. Atelier Tao+C has designed the interiors of Blue Bottle Coffee at West Bund in Shanghai, China.
Located in Shanghai's post-industrial West Bund, Blue Bottle Coffee shop occupies a former cement factory site overlooking a historical shipyard.

The design of Blue Bottle Coffee is a thoughtful response to its surroundings, defined by two distinctive 'canvases', supported by slant timber columns, which divide the space, inviting river views into the interior.

The canvases, as an unusual ceiling, also serve a practical purpose, housing mechanical and electrical facilities within their sloping structure.

Douglas-fir panels unify shelving, contrasting with prefabricated concrete bars and benches that reference the site's industrial legacy.

As a result, the design integrates historical context with warmth and openness.

Judges comments: "We loved how the designers brought a bespoke feel to this chain coffee shop. You can see the level of care and precision that has been applied here, responding directly to the history of the building and the surroundings."

Studio: Atelier Tao+C
Project: BlueBottle Coffee at West Bund