We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer Yen, Pei-Yu about their original and creative Cafe design work. Yen, Pei-Yu is an award-winning architectural designer, that makes our world a better place with their original cafe works.
Yen, Pei-Yu ("YP") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work Revival Cafe. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
YP : There are many issues we have to consider while preparing for a design project. To make a good design possible, we have to think about the building, environment, the user’s character, and so forth. The design of the Revival Cafe, for example, is under the constraints such as the expectation from the art museum and the building’s heritage status. One cannot begin the design without taking these conditions seriously.
YP : I wanted to bring in a style that cannot be defined, a style that can respect the building’s heritage status and also echo the modernity of the new art museum. I want to use this cafe to demonstrate how a dialogue between the past and the future and also between the East and the West can be possible.
YP : I will share this news with people who are involved with this project and announce this news to the general public.
YP : The concept itself took around a week and the drafting was about one day.
YP : The design was commissioned, but the client left plenty of room for me to decide the style of the cafe.
YP : This is an interior design project which will only be used in this cafe.
YP : The constraints on the floor area and space turned out pushing me to come out with interesting design.
YP : Shigeru Ban and Joe Shih.
YP : public sector
YP : The conditions related to the space are what make the design unique.
YP : It’s mainly from the special constraints and status of this project – a café that bears the memory of the past but has to serve for the customers who look for the future. This reminds me of the Chinese idiom from the Analects, new knowledge can be discovered from reviewing what one has known. For me, the cafe is like an instance of revitalization, and hence Revival Cafe.
YP : The most unique part of the interior design is the the curve shaped chairs of different size that brought in smooth movement and beautifully solved the challenges such as the irregular flooring area and multiple entrances. They also offer the visitor of the cafe opportunities to enjoy the details of the heritage from different angles.
YP : The design was solely done by me, but the construction was outsourced to other professionals.
YP : The most challenging part of the project is related to its heritage status. Due to the regulations in Taiwan, all of the main structure of a heritage should not be altered – this includes the ceiling, floor, and the wall. Besides, the irregular shape of the space also creates extra challenge to the project. Besides, the construction must not be in conflicts with the art museum’s opening hours; it also be very carefully planned so as the collections in the museum won’t be damaged by the construction. This was part of the reason many of the interior decorations had to be done outside the building and then assembled in the room later on. It’s really challenging to move around huge pieces in a heritage.
YP : I want to share my hard work with others and hopefully gain some opportunities for future collaboration.
YP : It gave me a priceless opportunity to have an in-depth research on the traditional methods people used for constructing architecture in Taiwan. Without knowledge like how to keep the terrazzo floor’s horizon levelled, I wouldn’t have been able to overcome the challenges I faced during the implantation of my design.
