In the historic Xicheng District of Beijing, JM Café is a 105m² adaptive reuse project adjacent to the White Pagoda Temple, a landmark dating back to the Yuan Dynasty. The surrounding area, once characterized by traditional hutong courtyards, has undergone extensive urban renewal, transforming into a dynamic node where historical significance meets contemporary urban life. Today, the district emulates Beijing’s evolving Citywalk culture, which embraces pedestrian exploration and urban discovery.
JM Café Technical Information
- Architects1-5: B.L.U.E. Architecture Studio
- Location: No.30, Dongcha, Gongmenkou, Xicheng District, Beijing, China
- Area: 210 m2 | 2,260 Sq. Ft.
- Project Year: 2024
- Photographs: © Zhi Xia
Blurring the boundaries between architecture, the city, and the surrounding environment allows the space to naturally blend into the urban texture and become an organic part of it.
– B.L.U.E. Architecture Studio Architects
JM Café Photographs
Architectural Response to Place
Rather than imposing an entirely new architectural language, JM Café mediates heritage and contemporary culture. The intervention is not a standalone object but a layered spatial experience drawing from the dynamic interplay of the urban environment. The cafe functions as a public gathering space and a private retreat, strategically positioned to capture views of the White Pagoda Temple while integrating with the daily rhythms of the hutong.
The design embraces a multi-level approach, guiding visitors from the lively square into the interior and the roof terrace. This circulation strategy fosters a sense of discovery, ensuring that the architectural experience is not static but sequential, echoing the fluidity of movement inherent in Beijing’s historic alleyways.
JM Café Spatial Qualities and Circulation
The spatial organization of JM Café is carefully choreographed, encouraging an organic transition from the public realm to more intimate settings. The journey begins at the stainless-steel façade, which reflects the surrounding environment, blurring the boundary between the built and the unbuilt. This reflective surface captures fleeting images of pedestrians and the urban square, creating a dynamic interplay between architecture and its context.
As visitors step inside, the space unfolds in gradual layers. A semi-outdoor area, formed by a recessed glass façade, allows for a moment of pause, a space that mediates between the activity of the square and the interior calmness of the café. Using stepped seating and strategically placed greenery reinforces a sense of spatial depth, subtly framing sky views and historic temples beyond.
A defining feature of the project is its ability to dissolve spatial boundaries, merging architecture with the surrounding cityscape. Using a gradient stainless-steel treatment, transitioning from mirror-polished to frosted, alters the perception of solidity and transparency. This shifting materiality allows the building to engage with its environment in a performative manner, responding to light, movement, and changing perspectives.
One of the most striking spatial elements is the rooftop terrace, accessed via a sculptural spiral staircase. Here, visitors are afforded an unparalleled view of the White Pagoda Temple, re-establishing a connection between the historic landmark and contemporary urban life. The terrace features a minimalist stone sculpture, a modern interpretation of the pagoda form, integrating contemporary design with historical reverence. This gesture transforms the rooftop into a social and contemplative space where architecture and history intersect.
Materiality and Sensory Experience
JM Café employs a restrained material palette that is deeply rooted in its context, reinforcing a dialogue between tradition and modernity. The predominant use of white and grey tones reflects the color scheme of the White Pagoda Temple, ensuring a visual continuity between the old and the new. Key material choices include:
Stainless steel extends from the exterior façade into the interior, unifying the project with a seamless material gesture.
White and light grey stone form a tactile surface that grounds the space while establishing a direct relationship with Beijing’s historic hutongs.
Frosted acrylic light boxes dissolve spatial boundaries and create an ethereal interior atmosphere.
The project carefully orchestrates light and shadow to create a dynamic sensory experience. The skylight positioned above the stepped seating area floods the space with natural light, establishing an indoor-outdoor quality even within the café’s depths. This design strategy highlights the materiality of the surfaces, emphasizing texture and depth.
The frosted acrylic light boxes installed on the ceiling at night cast a soft, diffused glow, echoing the traditional lanterns of Beijing’s old streets. The juxtaposition of these contemporary lighting elements against the grey-brick exterior reinforces a subtle yet powerful material contrast.
The three original wooden structural columns were reimagined as sculptural elements, subtly hinting at their historical presence while integrating seamlessly into the contemporary design language. These columns create a dialogue between the past and present, offering a tactile reminder of the site’s architectural lineage.
JM Café Plans
JM Café Image Gallery
About B.L.U.E. Architecture Studio
B.L.U.E. Architecture Studio is a Beijing-based architectural practice founded by Shuhei Aoyama, specializing in adaptive reuse, urban renewal, and contemporary interventions within historical contexts. The studio’s work is characterized by a deep sensitivity to spatial fluidity, materiality, and the interplay between architecture and its surroundings, often blending minimalist aesthetics with cultural narratives. Their projects, including renovations of traditional hutong spaces, emphasize the harmonization of past and present, creating environments that foster both community interaction and intimate experiences.
Credits and Additional Notes
- Architect: Shuhei Aoyama, Yoko Fujii, Kawashima Masaya / B.L.U.E. Architecture Studio
- Client: JM Cafe
- Site Area: 105 m²
Gross Area: 210 m²
Main Materials: Light grey tile, Grey brick, Stainless steel, White aggregate concrete, Plaster, Da Gu cement, White oak, Frosted acrylic
