Hcreates

Luneurs Rockbund is located in one of the most distinguished and historic areas of Shanghai, The Bund. The restaurant and bakery is found on Level one of the National Y.W.C.A Building, a beautiful piece of heritage Architecture completed in 1933. hcreates interior design For this space, we explored the concept of “utility”. A design adhering to an unfussy, minimalistic, and useful aesthetic. We took note of the ornamental Architecture of the bund and the Y.W.C.A Building itself and wanted to create a space that complemented, rather than competed with the heritage features. hcreates interior design   The concept was influenced by the humble aesthetic of utilitarian spaces, these areas tending to discard elements... More

Luneurs bon enfant is located in Jing’an MIXC World. The project explores the theme of “retro futurism”, ignited by a series of retro-futuristic illustrations by a French Chocolate Factory in the 50’s and 60’s. hcreates interior design Retro futurism itself is a sort of contradiction; visions of the future from a time gone by, allowing us to play with the past era in a contemporary way. Evident in the French illustrations was the use of color, curves, movement, and form, and the general graphic, energetic style. When approaching both the layout and spatial design we tried to integrate these aspects as much as possible, from the sculptural curving bench seats that define the seating area to the iconography... More

A well-loved shanghai institution, Shake first appeared on the scene in 2016. This casual and high-energy, live-music bar was ready for a revamp. Key to the project was to retain the soul of the place that was so familiar to its loyal customers. The concept remained true to its roots and continued to develop around the idea of the Supper Club, a space that was inspired by the music itself and paid homage to the vinyl era.  hcreates Hoping to create a venue that could extend its food offering and create a more defined area for the musicians, the layout was optimized to include a bigger kitchen and a raised stage area. As a venue that transitions from dinner to cocktails to dancing, the seating arrangements needed to consider comfo... More

 hcreates recently opened a new café for Mini Cuppa in the Sky Soho development in Hongqiao, Shanghai.  The client wanted a fun and cozy space to attract the young professionals in the surrounding office towers. When hcreates first started to learn about Mini Cuppa, they immediately noticed their range of interesting, creative drinks and snacks that were very eye-catching. Design Director Hannah Churchill said the creative process was ignited by the products. “We kept going back to this one bubble-tea image.  It was kind of sculptural. We couldn’t help but let that influence the design aesthetic for the space” hcreates hcreates hcreates designed a custom floor for the project, the terrazzo... More

The new Headquarters in the heart of Jing An will support the agency’s growing team and features a wellness center and flexible showroom for live streaming and events.  SHANGHAI (April 2021) Gusto Luxe, Asia’s leading integrated luxury agency, has moved into new Shanghai Headquarters. The 2,500 sqm space was designed by hcreates, an award-winning interior design studio based in Shanghai.   “We are incredibly excited to turn our vision for an integrated creative space, into a reality,” says Nick Cakebread, Gusto Luxe Founding Partner. “The new Shanghai headquarters will allow us to expand our service offering for clients, as well as ensure that our people have a space that caters not only to... More

To design a new French market offering for Luneurs - Les Halles, hcreates interiors developed an eclectic approach in materiality, by planning and styling with a distinct separation of bakery, coffee, ice cream, and delicatessen. hcreates played with a larger industrial approach to scale, utilizing large light/ acoustic features and exposing services and fire hoses to emphasize a more raw sense of space, whilst retaining the warm, inviting aesthetic of the other well-loved Luneurs locations. More

Nestled between a hairdresser and a hot pot restaurant on an otherwise typical Shanghai street, a large mural artwork has emerged. Spanning the full face of a site long time occupied by a convenience store. You could almost pass by, mistaking it for a boarded-up street art façade. Locally designed and installed on site, it is unique, bold and unexpected, on closer inspection, a small doorbell hidden in plain sight within the yellow, white and black paint strokes, indicates that more lies beyond. The client, a young veteran of the bar industry, had been quietly refining the concept for The Broken Dagger, patiently waiting for the day to realize his vision. A long incubation period meant the branding direction and theme were strong fr... More

Sino Engineering acquired an old 1,000 sqm factory in an industrial area zone, Pudong Shanghai. The factory structure was sound but the interior was in need of a complete overhaul to create an inspiring space for clients and staff alike.The brief was to create a fresh and modern automotive design studio which would house twenty design staff. The office area needed ample break-out space and separate meeting areas for the design teams to collaborate fluidly.  There were many technical considerations for creating a functional workshop area and to showcase the output we included an exhibition turntable for design reveals.The overall design aesthetic is modern and sleek, curved reception desks and walls pay homage to automobile design. To b... More

Mintel Singapore recently moved office to the newly renovated UIC building at 5 Shenton Way. The prestigious Singapore address overlooks the harbor and has lots of natural daylight. The brief for the new office was to create a bright, open space that is fun, stimulates creativity, and encourages collaboration and teamwork. The solution called for clever space planning and materials to make the office functional but also flexible, so that working areas can be transformed to host client events. The layout is a reflection of how the company works, with zones for shared eating and meeting, as well as, quiet working areas to create a relaxed and comfortable environment. The different spaces are delineated by changes in flooring and hanging pen... More

The brief was to design a space which delivered an authentic experience, that showcased New Zealand.  The space needed to be functional and flexible to provide a home for New Zealand companies to connect with China and host clients and conduct day-to-day business.  The Center is divided into two wings, business (office, meeting rooms, hot desks) and event/greet (entrance, cafe, demonstration kitchen, event space). At the street entry, a mix of native NZ and Asian tree ferns is showcased on a living plant wall before heading up to the main floor. Coming out of the lift you are instantly welcomed into a New Zealand space where the naturals colours from timber and stone evoke New Zealand’s iconic landscapes. The custom chevron... More

The brief was to create a hiatus for the modern man that delivered a high-end, cut and shave barber experience with the addition of a bar and pre/post shave “chill” space. Located in the popular Chengdu Taikoo Li mall customers would be encouraged to have a cocktail and cut whilst their partners’ shopped next-door. The design concept was a modern take on the roaring 30’s gentrification by tying classical elements with thoughtfully introduced bold and modern details. The intertwining of masculine details through a lens of soft elegance.  Greeted by a bar on arrival and a large curved plush velvet banquette surrounded by a logo etched copper wall, Doc’s delivers a grand high-end aesthetic.  Art deco c... More

Beijing welcomes Oh Yeah! Brewing to the fold with its new local brew on a grand scale. The city has always been the heart of the growing craft scene in China, the largest beer consuming market in the world. Oh Yeah! Brewing is nestled in the centre of Beijing’s business district of Guo Mao, amongst architectural landmarks such as the CCTV tower and the China World Trade Centre. With Beijing’s financial hub as its neighbouring clientele, the brewery looks to attract the up-and-coming affluent Chinese who seek a relaxed yet more modern social environment. The well-travelled Chinese founder wanted to develop a new atmosphere that would challenge the hard-surfaced, grungy, industrial garages of your typical craft beer bar. They wanted to... More

Our latest project for one of Shanghai's best bakeries, Luneurs. This tree-lined spot in the former French Concession was destined for a lively community hangout. The brushed stainless steel and white marble countertops highlight the production focus of this bakery. Balancing this are softer natural finishes and textures of wood and brick providing a link to the artisanal history of the bakery. Walnut window frames and a large product window to the exterior invite in the passerby. Raw concrete walls, vertical white tiles, and their signature concave mirror and hand-laid terrazzo floor, reference the first shop.  Co-founder and head designer Hannah Churchill says “One of the happy material finds of this project was the backside of the terrac... More

Boxing Cat Brewery’s flagship Beijing venue aims to bring you the ultimate craft beer and dining experience. Beer, as always, is the focus, with an on-site brewery visible through the glass behind the bar, large tap wall, chrome pipe ceiling feature and industrial metal clad counter.​The softened approach in materials contrasts the industrial elements which overall creates a more homely and comfortable dining experience. The dining space makes reference to a typical tap-house interior with natural woods, concrete tile and an exposed high ceiling. The look is softened by fabric bench seating and Scandinavian styled furniture. Pops of maroon red, large art walls and screens inject Boxing Cat Brewery’s personality and brand throughout the... More