Third Space -- Bars and Cafes

Author: Liu Shenghui (Photography); You You (Writing)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: "I'm not in a café, I'm on the way to a café," this classic line is often quoted by the urbanites, though its author and origin are long forgotten. It doesn't hinder its popularity at all. As tea-loving Chinese begin to embrace coffee and red wine, an increasing number of businesses sprout up around us like mushrooms after rain. Who decides to categorize our lives? Work and home occupy the first and second spaces, while the third space is categorized as bars and cafés. We waste our remaining energy and time in the third space, cherishing it naturally. Thus, while we demand better-tasting beverages, our expectations for the environment also rise. DC's minimalist Zen style, BARROUNG's artistic ambiance, and LALOUNG's colorful effects make our third spaces lively and interesting. The book lists over 20 distinctive leisure spaces, many of which are outstanding. A mix of Eastern and Western, traditional and modern, the design concepts always hover between contradictions, aiming to express the best artistic essence. Whether you spot Eastern elements in a Western space or notice Zen and natural elements often used to adorn the periphery, any creative approach should follow this principle: beauty is the original purpose of art. As we wander through these luxurious or minimalist, avant-garde or traditional, glamorous and romantic, or Loft spaces, we shouldn't be too harsh on the designers, because this is unprecedented. The descendants of tea lovers are just beginning to adapt, and I believe there will be more stunning moments in the near future. The aroma of coffee tickles our taste buds, while the mellow richness of wine soothes our palates. As for the visuals, they rely on spatial decorations to fulfill us. Stone and tiles determine the decorative effect of the space and also influence the quality of leisure life. Open this book, and you'll find that this is indeed the case—no exaggeration.