Harbour Road Cafe, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
Neighbourhood Warmth with Operational Agility.
Once a tucked away and unnoticed coffee joint, our design of Harbour Road Cafe repositions the cafe as a welcoming, neighbourhood-style destination that distinguishes itself from nearby chains while building on the cafe’s legacy. Working within clear licensing parameters—retaining existing rooms and door locations, keeping the service counter footprint — our design focused on clarity of flow, modern interior with adaptable seating and a stronger sense of place for a diverse clientele of exhibitors, visitors, neighbourhood office workers and tourists.
Arrival, Wayfinding and Customer Flow
One of the key design features is a timber canopy with hanging signage to attract customers from afar. The arrival sequence is simplified and intuitive. A full-width light‑box menu clearly signals ordering, while a defined pick‑up zone and a “Grab + Go” ledge streamline circulation during peak time rushes.
Materiality, Atmosphere and Sense of Place
Inspired by the hues of coffee, the material palette pairs terracotta‑style wall tiles and warm timber accents with a calm beige ceiling and durable vinyl flooring—balancing warmth, resilience and ease of maintenance. Meanwhile, thoughtfully placed wall photos of Hong Kong add local character, creating a living room like interior. Seating is deliberately diverse to support multiple scenarios across the day: standing bar‑height tables for rush periods and communal usage, all‑round tables for everyday service, and lounge‑style sofas for relaxed seating.
Seating Strategy and Adaptability
Large pivot and sliding doors allow rooms to flex between open and enclosed modes, enabling the café to size up and down based on the traffic. Those rooms can be used for small parties, presentations or private meetings, a TV wall can be revealed and neatly concealed when not in use, returning the rooms to casual cafe mode.
By uniting clear wayfinding, operational agility and a warm, local character, Harbour Road Cafe becomes an easy, everyday hub – from quick morning coffees and grab‑and‑go lunches to informal meetings and post‑event catch‑ups.
