Bustling city life, blooming streets, and the integration of people and place — drawing from Shanghai’s inherent openness and inclusivity, say architects introduces a “pocket park” into the shopping mall for nice rice.
As an important element of Shanghai’s urban renewal, pocket parks are closely connected to everyday life and support a wide range of social activities. The store preserves the layered corners of the existing walls, allowing irregular residual spaces to become flexible and playful rather than overlooked.
At the storefront, classic park benches are placed for passersby to lean and pause. A park-style railing winds inward from the back, running through the entire space and doubling as a clothing rail for display. Display platforms incorporate stepped elements, creating a more relaxed and natural presentation. Familiar park features appear throughout the store, cultivating a sense of ease and openness. With no enclosing walls, and with street-like stone materials grounding the space in its surroundings, the interior reconnects with the neighborhood — offering a brief escape from urban noise and a moment of leisurely calm.
