SHAWADS weaves maritime heritage into quanzhou local fish coffee’s ocean-like interior

the café reflects the region's maritime history and celebrates the sea goddess thean hou.

shuyin edited by matthew burgos August 21, 2025 4 min

SHAWADS Crafts Interiors for Local Fish Coffee Thean Hou Temple

Shanghai-based SHAW Architecture & Design Studio – SHAWADS designed the interior of Local Fish Coffee in Quanzhou near the Thean Hou Temple, reflecting the maritime heritage of the region and referencing the sea goddess Thean Hou. Quanzhou, historically known as Zayton to Arab traders, was a key port along the Maritime Silk Roads. The 75 sqm café interior translates oceanic motifs and cultural memory into spatial design. The team used vernacular materials and handcraft techniques to create a dynamic, textured environment. A custom wall treated with mica powder and polished using methods inspired by Moroccan tadelakt produces a reflective surface resembling natural stone and water.

The building form incorporates a curved footprint that responds to the irregular site. The recessed entrance and curved glass curtain walls blur boundaries between interior and exterior. A central light well provides daylight, ventilation, and visual connection to the attic space, creating a layered, open atmosphere. Ground-level interventions include a small, beach-like sunken area with embedded shells and sculptural details referencing maritime history. Reclaimed ship wood is arranged organically, suggesting driftwood naturally deposited along a shoreline.

SHAWADS weaves maritime heritage into quanzhou local fish coffee's ocean-like interior - 1 — SHAWADS designs Local Fish Coffee near the Thean Hou Temple in Quanzhou | image by Local Fish Coffee

SHAWADS’ Local Fish Coffee Interior Design is Inspired by the Sea

The coffee bar is composed of three distinct materials: reclaimed wood, cast concrete, and glass, each reflecting different textures and forms. The concrete surfaces incorporate seashell fragments and terrazzo to evoke wave patterns and geological layering, while careful casting and hand-polishing emphasize materiality and craft. Suspended iron light rails, ceramic ‘wave lamps,’ and other custom elements introduce movement and light into the space, responding to the surrounding environment and historical context. Curved glass, exposed concrete, and shimmering mica surfaces create a balance between natural, industrial, and traditional influences.

The interior by SHAWADS studio integrates craftsmanship, material experimentation, and spatial layering to create a setting that references maritime heritage, ocean ecology, and regional identity, while maintaining functional spaces for coffee service and community gathering.

SHAWADS weaves maritime heritage into quanzhou local fish coffee's ocean-like interior - 2 — the café reflects the region’s maritime heritage and the sea goddess Thean Hou | image by Xu Xiaodong

SHAWADS weaves maritime heritage into quanzhou local fish coffee's ocean-like interior - 3 — luminous ocean pendants add some rough narrative to the poetic and restrained space | image by Xu Xiaodong

SHAWADS weaves maritime heritage into quanzhou local fish coffee's ocean-like interior - 4 — suspended iron light rails and ceramic ‘wave ceramic lamps’ introduce movement and light | image by Shu Yin

shawads-interior-local-fish-coffee-quanzhou-china-thean-hou-temple-designboom-1800-2 — the interior covers 75 sqm, translating oceanic motifs into spatial design | image by Shu Yin

SHAWADS weaves maritime heritage into quanzhou local fish coffee's ocean-like interior - 5 — curved glass, exposed concrete, and shimmering mica balance natural and industrial elements | image by Shu Yin

SHAWADS weaves maritime heritage into quanzhou local fish coffee's ocean-like interior - 6 — concrete surfaces incorporate seashell fragments and terrazzo to suggest waves | image by Xu Xiaodong

SHAWADS weaves maritime heritage into quanzhou local fish coffee's ocean-like interior - 7 — reclaimed ship wood is arranged organically, resembling driftwood along a shore | image by Xu Xiaodong

SHAWADS weaves maritime heritage into quanzhou local fish coffee's ocean-like interior - 8 — the coffee bar combines reclaimed wood, cast concrete, and glass | image by Shu Yin

shawads-interior-local-fish-coffee-quanzhou-china-thean-hou-temple-designboom-1800-3 — inside the glass shrine is an empty space with a flowing halo | image by Shu Yin

SHAWADS weaves maritime heritage into quanzhou local fish coffee's ocean-like interior - 9 — the halo forms an abstract atmosphere, and the feeling of a moment frozen in time | image by Local Fish Coffee

SHAWADS weaves maritime heritage into quanzhou local fish coffee's ocean-like interior - 10 — a recessed entrance and curved glass curtain walls merge interior and exterior spaces | images by Xu Xiaodong

SHAWADS weaves maritime heritage into quanzhou local fish coffee's ocean-like interior - 11 — entrance incorporates an exterior coffee signage with wind vane | image by Xu Xiaodong

detail fragments | image by the Watcher, Local Fish Coffee, Shu YIn, Xu Xiaodong door handle resembles excavated ruins, fragments of ocean memory | image by Local Fish Coffee a small concrete wave | image by the Watcher the hand-polished beach-like surface made of terrazzo and sea-shells is slowly washed-up by polished concrete waves | image by the Watcher constellations of sea shells | image by Shu Yin glass bar counter detail | image by Xu Xiaodon the three different cement craftsmanship | image by Shu Yin 'wave ceramic lamps' designed and crafted by SHAWADS and ceramic artist Qin Fei for two years | image by Local Fish Coffee small window with careful metal detailings | image by Shu Yin door handle detail | image by Avartar dog friendly detail | image by Local Fish Coffee doggie paw in seashells | image by Xu Xiaodong

project info:

name: Local Fish Coffee Thean Hou Temple – A spatial poem dedicated to the sea goddess ‘Thean Hou’
interior architect and interior designer: SHAW Architecture & Design Studio – SHAWADS

lead designer: Shu Yin Wu, Zhifeng (Shaw) Xu

on-site construction supervisor: Zhifeng (Shaw) Xu

soft décor: Hong Xuemei

double height space lighting installation, ceramic table design: envy envy

ceramic table co-ceramicist: Gao Yuhang

envy envy designer: Bu Jiaxin

bar area: SHAWADS

light well: SHAWADS

light well co-ceramicist: Qin Fei

client: Local Fish Coffee

location: Quanzhou, China

photographers: Xu Xiaodong, Shu Yin, the Watcher, Avartar

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