OSKAY store echoes industrial roots of taiwanese port city through raw materials

the existing architecture is left visible, allowing the historic first bank warehouse character to remain intact.

Yi-Hsien Lee edited by thomai tsimpou September 23, 2024 4 min

OSKAY Store reflects the industrial energy of Kaohsiung

True Thing Design Studio unveils OSKAY Store, a curated retail space located in the historic First Bank Warehouse in Yancheng, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Drawing inspiration from the designer’s personal connection to the place, the interior reflects the ruggedness of the surrounding mountains, the tranquility of the nearby sea, and the industrial energy of the port city. The existing architecture, including the nearly six-meter-high ceilings, exposed beams, and original columns, is left visible, allowing the warehouse’s character to remain intact. Raw materials are extensively used throughout, placing sustainability at the center of the design and ensuring the space can adapt to future business activities. One of the central design features is a ‘hideaway wall,’ which subtly blurs the line between inside and out, while a central bare column divides the space into distinct zones for the store, office, and meeting areas.

OSKAY store echoes industrial roots of taiwanese port city through raw materials - 1 — all images by YHLAA

True Thing draws inspiration from hide-and-seek games

The name OSKAY comes from a pause language used in children’s hide-and-seek games in southern Taiwan during the 1970s and 1980s, and the concept of hiding is woven into the design. True Thing Design Studio creatively translates this idea into the space, introducing hidden corners and areas that invite exploration and discovery. The design uses frosted glass and steel panels as half-height partitions to define areas of varying functions, ensuring a sense of openness while maintaining privacy where needed. To complement the soaring interior walls, the Taiwanese studio segments large-section calcium silicate boards and integrates them into the space, creating a subtle backdrop. Variable-height platforms offer flexible display solutions, making it easy to rearrange and adjust the store layout as needed, adapting to changing retail needs.

OSKAY store echoes industrial roots of taiwanese port city through raw materials - 2 — OSKAY Store is a curated retail space located in the historic First Bank Warehouse in Taiwan

OSKAY store echoes industrial roots of taiwanese port city through raw materials - 3 — drawing inspiration from the True Thing Design Studio’s personal connection to the place

OSKAY store echoes industrial roots of taiwanese port city through raw materials - 4 — the interior reflects the industrial energy of the port city

OSKAY store echoes industrial roots of taiwanese port city through raw materials - 5 — raw materials are extensively used throughout

oskay-store-kaohsiung-industrial-roots-raw-materials-exposed-beams-true-thing-design-studio-designboom-1800-02 — ensuring the space can adapt to future business activities

OSKAY store echoes industrial roots of taiwanese port city through raw materials - 6 — placing sustainability at the center of the design

OSKAY store echoes industrial roots of taiwanese port city through raw materials - 7 — one of the central design features is a ‘hideaway wall,’ which subtly blurs the line between inside and out

oskay-store-kaohsiung-industrial-roots-raw-materials-exposed-beams-true-thing-design-studio-designboom-1800-03 — a central bare column divides the space into distinct zones for the store, office, and meeting areas

OSKAY store echoes industrial roots of taiwanese port city through raw materials - 8 — the name OSKAY comes from a pause language used in children’s hide-and-seek games

OSKAY store echoes industrial roots of taiwanese port city through raw materials - 9 — introducing hidden corners and areas that invite exploration and discovery

OSKAY store echoes industrial roots of taiwanese port city through raw materials - 10 — True Thing Design Studio segments large-section calcium silicate boards and integrates them into the space

project info:

name: OSKAY Store
architect: True Thing Design Studio | @10thing.design
location: Yancheng, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
photographer: YHLAA | @nevermind1107

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.