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Charred Wooden Shingles Enveloping a Responsive Café Structure in Urban Spaces

Authors:
Zi Jin Wong, Tsz Ying Victoria Tong
Charred Wooden Shingles Enveloping a Responsive Café Structure in Urban Spaces
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The integration of charred wooden shingles and a flexible roof structure creates a visually distinctive café that prioritizes social interaction within urban environments.
5 key facts about this project
01
The design incorporates a prominent chimney that visually represents the café's coffee culture.
02
Flexible roof panels allow for climate-responsive adjustments.
03
A community-focused layout facilitates varied seating configurations for social interaction.
04
Constructed with charred wooden shingles, enhancing durability and reducing maintenance.
05
The integration of glass elements maximizes natural light while connecting interior and exterior spaces.

## Project Overview

The Fika Chimney is situated in urban environments, designed to serve as a café and social hub that fosters community engagement through the concept of "fika," a Swedish practice of taking a coffee break to relax and socialize. This project blends functionality with aesthetics, aiming to enrich urban life by providing a welcoming space for individuals to gather and connect.

### Spatial Strategy and User Interaction

The architectural framework prioritizes flexibility, enabling the café to adjust its layout according to user needs and environmental conditions. The design incorporates adaptable roof panels, allowing the space to transition from open to sheltered according to weather changes. Communal seating arrangements are integral, promoting dialogue and interaction among patrons. The distinctive chimney, a central visual element, operates both as a beacon and as a metaphor for the café's invitation to engage with the culture of coffee.

### Materiality and Sustainability

The construction employs a strategic selection of materials that balance aesthetic appeal with sustainability. Timber forms the primary structure, offering natural warmth, while a waterproof membrane encloses the chimney, ensuring durability without compromising design integrity. Glass panels integrated into the roof facilitate natural light, enhancing the user experience by connecting indoor and outdoor spaces. Steel components provide structural stability, and prefabricated timber beams simplify assembly and adaptability in diverse settings. The incorporation of strategically placed lighting fixtures further enhances the atmosphere, ensuring usability throughout the day and into the evening.

By focusing on these elements, the Fika Chimney reconciles a contemporary architectural approach with environmental considerations, creating an adaptable space that enhances urban interactions while promoting the cultural significance of communal coffee breaks.

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Pavilion Atlas 2026: Rethinking Nations Through Architectural Storytelling

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Competition organisers

Buildner launches Pavilion Atlas 2026, a global architecture competition inviting designers to create conceptual pavilions that tell the story of a country. Participants are challenged to express cultural, social, environmental, or political identity through spatial storytelling, focusing on ideas rather than symbols or technical constraints. The competition offers a total prize fund of €20,000, with final registration open until September 16, 2026, and winners to be announced on December 8, 2026. All submissions will become part of a global design archive.

Pavilion Atlas 2026

Design a story of your country

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 16 September 2026

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