Moring Flower Store is located in the ground floor of an office building in Nanjing, China. The owner hopes that running this flower shop will mark the beginning of a new chapter in her life. The name “Morning” is derived from the English word “morning,” and we have taken the morning light as the starting point for our design. The atmosphere created by the morning light serves as the core concept of the space.
Entrance to a flower room woven with light and shade
The entrance area of the store has a deep façade, with a wide corridor taking up a significant part of the space. To allow more light to penetrate and illuminate the interior, we freed up part of the entrance area. The façade features large glass windows, increasing the transparency of the space and allowing passers-by to glimpse the floral beauty of the interior. On the right-hand side of the façade, we designed a sloping, floating display case as a pop-up exhibition space, which can feature different seasonal floral arrangements to attract attention.
The main visual element of the façade is a large wooden structure. We employed spectral and linear extraction design techniques, using grids and acrylic materials to adapt to the changing light. The combination of grids and acrylic creates a mysterious magic box of light and shadow, revealing a rich variety of light and shadow relationships as time passes and the angle of light changes. In addition, linear pendant lights are installed between the grids. When night falls, the grids diffuse the light from the pendants in countless beams, creating a soft, dreamy atmosphere.
For the interior of the flower shop, we chose a large number of natural and handcrafted materials to create a peaceful and welcoming atmosphere. To continue the morning light theme, we installed layers of translucent washi paper in the ceiling space, following the depth of the room. The washi paper acts like a soft mist, filtering the light into speckled shadows, making visitors feel as if they are in a morning forest, surrounded by delicate, grainy light, and totally immersed in this poetic space.
In terms of functional layout, we designed two counters. The inner counter is essentially for the florist’s daily work, with a stainless steel surface that combines aesthetics and convenience. The front of the counter features travertine elements, with natural textures and a feeling of returning to nature. The oval island in the center of the space is the visual focal point of the flower store. The island is supported by various stones and bricks, with the display surface placed on two different levels to best present a variety of floral arrangements and satisfy retail needs. The base of the display is treated with gravel, as if a corner of an outdoor garden had been brought indoors, allowing customers to feel the essence of nature while selecting the flowers.
The flow of the space revolves around the central oval display. The floor consists of two types of handmade lime bricks. The gray stone connects naturally with the outside environment, while the beige stone, with its smaller size and interlocking layout, has a unique handmade natural texture and guides the movement of customers.
Mirrors are placed on both sides of the space. The mirrors enhance the visual extension of the space, providing different perspectives for displaying the floral arrangements. The shelving area on the left uses old wood for the shelves, with the cabinet doors below continuing the travertine material, echoing the floor and creating a harmonious visual effect throughout the space.
Near the entrance to the counter, a protruding niche is created as a weekly display area for the florist’s featured products, like a little box of surprises that offers new discoveries to customers each time.
Brand: The dream of a small flower store “In harmony with light and dust”
In today’s society, flower stores have become synonymous with businesses run by women. We understood the cultural connotations and temperament behind the brand and, through interpreting the brand elements, embarked on a warm design journey. Morning Flower Shop originates in the morning light, drawing inspiration from every design detail and ultimately making the owner’s dream blossom in the interplay of light. The Morning Flower Shop is not just a place to sell flowers; it is also a space where people can briefly escape from their busy lives. It offers a unique floral experience to relax the mind and body, immersing visitors in an atmosphere of nature and art.
