Fununitdesign | GOMORRA COFFEE·Shining Crystal: Nanxun Branch

"You must visit Nanxun—lose yourself in the charm of Jiangnan."

"In a centuries-old residence within Nanxun Ancient Town, we undertook a comprehensive spatial and brand redesign for GOMORRA Coffee. Located along Nanxun’s historic street—where tourists and longtime residents intermingle—the founder shared her vision for the renewal: to reflect the essence of locality, rustic simplicity, and a return to authenticity, while still conveying the coffee aesthetics and attitude of a young female barista."

The spatial layout of Nanxun’s traditional architecture was shaped by feudal social ethics, Confucian traditions, feng shui customs, and modern influences—reflecting how cultural values manifest in ideology. In the conservation and revitalization of these historic residences, what should a riverside Jiangnan coffee shop, rooted in Eastern heritage, embody?

Unlike the traditional white walls and black tiles typical of Jiangnan water towns, landmarks like Zhang Shiming’s Former Residence, Xiaolianzhuang, and the Liu Family’s Ladder House—built during the Republican era with their distinctive blue and red bricks—incorporate Renaissance architectural influences. This unique blend sets Nanxun apart from other Jiangnan ancient towns.As we peeled away the original façade, the red brick walls along the street gradually revealed themselves—a serendipitous discovery that also felt like a design destiny. We chose to preserve these exposed bricks, allowing them to become the tangible link between Gomorra Coffee and Nanxun’s architectural heritage.

Raw stone slabs—placed vertically or horizontally—define the space, transforming into benches, countertops, and columns... An Eastern soul with contemporary construction, creating a dynamic experience. In a compact café space, we believe excessive furnishings become a burden rather than an asset. By minimizing the need for constant rearrangement, we integrate spatial structure with functionality, crafting a more comfortable experience within just 20m².

In this project, 70% of the space unfolds outdoors—an area that belongs less exclusively to Gomorra and more to the ongoing dialogue with Nanxun’s community. Here, artsy coffee enthusiasts,fan-fluttering uncles, and camera-toting tourists intermingle, collectively activating this space with vibrant public energy.

Gomorra's brand essence breathes relaxation and Eastern sensibility, fused with coffee's inherent refinement. This harmony of contrasting DNA emerges through weathered wood's organic warmth and sleek metallic silver, all bathed in a sunlit palette where the aroma of coffee lingers.

"Here flows crystal-clear water, under crystal-clear skies,

Crystal-clear sun and moon, crystal-clear stars that rise,

Crystal-clear ponds and waterways that gleam,

Crystal-clear willows, bamboo paths that dream...

This crystal-clear town, its crystal-clear reflection,

Mirrors a crystal-clear world’s perfection!

Ah—this, oh this is my crystal-clear homeland!"

——《Jiangnan Water Town》Chi Xu

Courtyards, flowing water, unhurried sunlight, delicate fragrances—Along the riverbanks of Nanxun's centuries-old dwellings,blue-gray roof tiles rest like slumbering fish scales,while white walls stand as unfurled scrolls of xuan paper.Each day at three,sunlight erupts from the water's surface,sending shimmering liquid patterns through windows to dance across wooden ceilings—as latticed carvings solemnly document this daily sacrament of light,nature's ephemeral artistry etched in timeless wood.