A Barn-Inspired Structure
Cycle Cycle Mobile Bakehouse is a pop-up café and bakery designed to explore the intrinsic relationship between food and land. This project aligns seamlessly with our studio’s philosophy, which sees architecture as a bridge between the surface and the essence of human interactions, landscapes, and traditions. By reflecting on local customs and social connections, the design seeks to re-establish the bond between people and their environment in contemporary society.
The mobile bakehouse’s design takes inspiration from a traditional barn, reinterpreted as a lightweight wooden frame structure. It features a rain canopy above and adjustable sunshade panels on the sides, reminiscent of small field shelters where farmers take breaks. The façade consists of stacked grain sacks, combining the solidity of bricks with the tactile quality of fabric, resulting in a robust yet inviting aesthetic. Slender openings within the stacked grain sacks are positioned at a low height, creating a sense of intimacy akin to peering out from a barn. These openings selectively reveal interior activities, distinguishing between “frontstage” and “backstage” functions. Additionally, scattered cutouts allow natural light to filter through, playing with perspective and layering to soften the perception of scale. Raising the sunshade panels and opening the curtains transform the space into a semi-private setting, adaptable to its surroundings.
Mobility, Urban Integration and Improvisation
The bakehouse incorporates “low-tech” design principles, utilizing the structure itself to encourage natural and casual interactions. The cart’s chassis forms a continuous seating area, where grain sacks act as cushions and trapezoidal columns serve as armrests while maintaining personal space. The seating design takes cues from traditional rural low stools, offering an intuitive and immersive user experience.
To accommodate its periodic relocation, the bakehouse emphasizes modularity and adaptability, allowing it to organically integrate into urban environments and contribute to dynamic public spaces. The on-site construction process resists rigid standardization, fostering collaboration between designers and builders to develop spontaneous solutions. This improvisational approach enhances the project’s sense of temporariness and authenticity. The architectural essence of the bakehouse is expressed not through meticulously polished details but through raw, unrefined materials. The cool mat covering the rain canopy and the rough-textured fabric elements maintain a deliberate randomness, reinforcing a natural, untamed beauty that harmonizes with its environment.
