WEN Boutique Store — Baicai Design

Project

Retail
Cultural
Restaurants and Bar
Cafe and Bakery
Other

WEN Boutique Store

WEN Boutique Store is situated in the Longhu Tianjie area of Hunnan District, Shenyang, nestled within a low-density commercial pedestrian district. WEN aspires to become a hub of fashion, showcasing a diverse array of trendy possibilities. With Baicai's interpretation of the space's narrative, there's an ambition to create a fashion space with a temporary set feel, aiming for change within the unchanging.

Project Info:

Status: built, 2024
Area: 195 sqm
Client: WEN Boutique Store
Location: ShenYang
Photography: Topia Vision

The design axis of the space is: Free Set. We aim to capture the speed and tension of fashion without defining what occurs within the space, always remaining open like a series of commas, allowing for infinite editing and updates according to needs.

The project consists of a two-story retail space facing the main pedestrian street. The first floor has a smaller area, with the main business operations located on the second floor. The design allocates the narrow space on the first floor for street-facing displays, guiding customers into the space and directing them upstairs. Minimal interventions have been made to the building's facade to preserve the original urban texture, allowing the content of the space to become the visual focal point. Additionally, a lighting installation spelling out "WEN" has been incorporated on the second floor, not only serving as a brand statement but also enhancing the sense of unity between the two levels.

The first floor primarily features children's clothing and lifestyle products. We have incorporated a green multifunctional installation that serves as a brand display externally and as a showcase for various possibilities internally. Due to spatial constraints, we designed display racks with wheels to bring more versatility to this narrow space.

On the second floor, we maximized the display area as much as possible by utilizing all four sides of the space for exhibition. The fitting area and rest area serve as the core, supporting the surrounding clothing rack system.

We opted for conventional materials to create the display system within the space, utilizing stainless steel round tubes, square tubes, and angle steel to create various arrangements and combinations. This approach conveys a sense of honest objectivity, offering an exceptionally ordinary experience.

We have incorporated movable clothing racks that can be adjusted according to spatial needs and can also create different spatial experiences. The interior of the racks possesses editable features, using combinations of angle and square tubes to offer various shelving possibilities, allowing the configuration of the racks to change based on the items being displayed.

The fitting rooms and storage area are constructed from lightweight structures welded from square tubes, with the exterior of the storage area obscured by galvanized iron sheets that also incorporate the logo to create a brand identity marker. The exterior of the fitting rooms is mirrored, serving the rest area while also adding depth and dimension to the space. Both areas employ fabric curtains as a soft material to soften the sharpness brought by metal, lending a gentler texture to the space.

About

Baicai Design is a multidisciplinary design practice based in New York and Shenyang, working across architecture, interiors, exhibitions, and spatial design. Its practice spans different geographies, scales, and cultural contexts.

Founded by Kaiwen Zhao, Baicai is shaped by his interdisciplinary background in design and architecture. Zhao studied Industrial Design at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and Architecture at the Yale School of Architecture. He currently teaches in the Department of Industrial Design at RISD, and has previously taught at the University of Colorado Denver, lectured at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, and served as a guest critic at Syracuse University.

Baicai approaches space beyond the conventional boundaries of interior design, bringing together architectural and product design thinking to address spatial questions. Through different scales of intervention, we explore the relationships between space, objects, and human behavior.

Awards

FRAME Wellness Space of the year Shortlisted
2026

Paris Design Awards Winner
2026

MUSE Design Awards Gold Winner
2026

Dezeen China Rising Firm of the Year
2025

POSITION Award China Best 100 Young Architect
2024

Guangzhou Design Week 40 Under 40
2024

AD China 100 YOUNG
2022-2024

Architizer Best Young Interior Design Firm Special Mention
2024

Forbes China 30 Under 30
2023

FRAME Small Residential of the year Shortlisted
2023

FRAME Award Best Emerging Designer Nominee
2023

APIDA Design Award Excellence Award
2023

FRAME Pop-up Store of the Year
2022

FRAME Window Display of the Year Shortlisted
2022

WYDF TOP 100 Designer
2022

Dezeen Award Shortlisted
2022

Architecture Masterprize Best of The Bests
2022

AD China 100 YOUNG
2020-2022

Architecture Masterprize Honorable Mention
2022

KUKAN Design Award Shortlisted
2022

DNA Award Winner in Workplace Design
2022

DNA Award Honorable Mention in Workplace Design
2022

DNA Award Honorable Mention in Showroom Design
2022

K-Design Award Winner
2022

Novum Design Award Gold Award
2022

Novum Design Award Silver Award
2022

IDA Design Award Honorable Mention
2022

FRAME Best of the Month
2022 April

Design for Asia Award Bronx Award
2021

Design for Asia Award Excellence Award
2021

IDEA Design Award Finalist
2021

Golden Pin Design Award Winner
2021

Golden Pin Design Award Honorable Mention
2022

Vestibulum Inceptos Gravida, Ornare Review,
by Tincidunt Nisl
2024

Ullamcorper Faucibus (Congue) Euismod, by Ligula Parturient, Bibendum Review Porta Libero
2023

Dictumst Tristique, Facilisis Magazine, Edition Two, Porta Libero
2021

Auctor Adipiscing Art Magazine, Porta Libero
2020

Sollicitudin Ornare Magazine,
Porta Libero
2020

Press