F.O.G. Architecture Designs Cycle Cycle Mobile Bakehouse with Grain Sack Facades

F.O.G. Architecture has designed a somewhat unconventional pop-up cafe and bakery for a client who wished to explore a connection between food and the land. Cycle Cycle mobile bakehouse is a pavilion-like structure whose design is inspired by a traditional barn and is reminiscent of Chinese rural architecture.

F.O.G. Architecture was founded in 2018 by architects Zheng Yu and Zhan Di and has studios in London, Shanghai, and Chongqing. The studio’s philosophy is based on the premise that architecture is filled with emotion and forms a timeless connection with people. Cycle Cycle presented an ideal opportunity to explore this philosophy.

The 18-square-meter (194-square-feet) cafe and bakery is a wooden structure with facades constructed from sacks of grain, stacked together like bricks. Hinged wooden panels at the front of the structure are covered with bamboo mats, providing shade for a serving hatch and seating area. At the rear, a large extended rainproof canopy is covered with bamboo mats and fitted with curtains, offering both shelter and a semi-private area for customers. A ladder on one side of the structure is a reference to rural barn vernacular. Materials and textures are natural and tactile, imbuing the cafe and bakery with a homey warmth.

Several openings in the structure offer views of the interior, allowing customers to observe coffee preparation and the packaging of bread and pastries. These openings also help to circulate air and brighten the interior with natural light. Low bench seating at the cafe’s base encourages interaction from customers and the grain sacks provide makeshift backrests. Low seating is common in rural areas in China, the proximity to the ground making it easier for farmers when handling crops.

F.O.G. Architecture designed Cycle Cycle as a prefabricated modular structure, one that can be transported by truck to various destinations and set up easily and efficiently. When assembling the structure, the architects and builders did not erect fences, encouraging passers-by to get involved. Grain sacks were stacked intuitively as part of a team effort and the construction enjoyed a particularly performative aspect.

Cycle Cycle is, in many ways, similar to a food truck, albeit not on wheels — flexibility and mobility are key aspects of the project. F.O.G. Architecture has ensured the structure can be adapted to various environments, creating a new public space within a city. The Cycle Cycle mobile bakehouse showcases how coffee and food can activate public spaces in an impromptu manner. The structure has a cultural role to play, using architecture to help rediscover a connection between people and the land.