Chinese architecture studio SoBA Architects has completed an innovative cafe and florist shop called The Bloom Box in Kunshan, China, featuring a unique foldable design that can open and close depending on weather conditions and seasonal changes. The 40-square-meter bright yellow building sits on a lakeside platform in an urban park, transforming what was previously used as a simple sunshade pavilion into a dynamic commercial space.
The remarkable structure functions as what the architects describe as "a living container" with adjustable facades that can unfold during business hours through sliding walls and movable elements, revealing the interior of the shop to customers. When closed, the building folds into a compact, enclosed box, creating a completely different visual appearance. This flexibility allows the structure to adapt to different lighting conditions, weather patterns, and seasonal requirements throughout the year.
"Our goal was to bring this place to life through a lightweight and flexible design intervention – creating a spot where people genuinely want to pause and linger," explained the team at SoBA Architects. "We sought a building that feels alive – one that actively responds to time, weather, and user needs, a spatial expression that makes the building part of the city's rhythm rather than a static object."
The construction utilizes a lightweight steel frame to ensure structural stability on the floating platform, while translucent aluminum cladding allows natural light and air to filter through the box-like structure. At the side of the coffee counter, the facade can lift upward and outward, creating a temporary shelter and covered area for customers to gather. A long wooden bench was strategically placed next to the building, with translucent panels made from steel frame and ECTFE membrane providing additional shading for visitors.
According to SoBA Architects, their "stable skeleton and dynamic skin" design strategy extends the structure's lifecycle while enabling it to continuously adapt and respond within the urban environment. The studio envisions the building not as a "finished" project, but rather as "a living container" that evolves and changes through daily use and interaction with visitors.
"We believe architecture's meaning isn't confined to grand scales or monumental forms," said the architects. "It can also live in a small, openable, breathable box that participates in life, responding over time to its environment and users, and becoming part of the city's collective memory." The translucent aluminum cladding not only provides weather protection but also creates interesting light patterns inside the cafe throughout the day.
SoBA Architects was founded in 2018 by Ruo Wang and Haiyin Tang in New York, and the firm now maintains offices in both Suzhou and Seattle. The studio recently completed another project in Kunshan – an urban park design that drew inspiration from the "curve and rhythm" of local music traditions. The Bloom Box project represents the firm's commitment to creating architecture that actively engages with its surroundings and users.
The project was developed in collaboration with Huaqiao Town and the Kunshan Municipal Government, with consulting support from the Huaqiao Economic Development Zone Planning and Construction Bureau. The design team included Chen Tuo, Li Chuanzhang, Wang Yuan, Shen Yichen, and Li Zizhen, with specialized consulting from Shanghai Guangyue Lighting Design Co for lighting elements and Zang Yuhong for structural engineering. Construction was completed by Suzhou Luting Construction Engineering Co, with photography documentation provided by Wen Studio.
