nice rice makes its Hong Kong debut. The city never disguises its complexity: old lanes hold the lingering warmth of longstanding shops, while neon lights pulse with a contemporary rhythm. say brings this distinctive urban tension into the space, creating “a home where old and new collide” as a response to the cultural exploration of the brand’s first Hong Kong store.
The store is located at a street-front site on Pak Sha Road, Causeway Bay. The brand’s signature hangtag is embedded into the façade, as if gently lifting the entire little house. The door handle continues the hangtag motif, becoming the first handshake between customer and brand. Departing from convention, the logo adopts the neon lighting most recognizable on Hong Kong streets; when lit at night, it reads like a familiar greeting.
The site is a long, deep rectangular volume. say inserts an irregular timber frame structure into the space. The front zone evokes the old Hong Kong shops of memory; within the timber frame, interlocking joints create a sense of time sedimented. The checkout counter is a distinctive gesture, stitched from white leather of varying textures—warm and refined. Around the timber structure, shoe-and-hat drawers, semi-open screens and other display methods are varied yet restrained, enriching the ways garments are presented.
Beyond the frame, the scene returns to a modern domestic setting. A high-gloss lacquered ceiling draws outdoor light and street views into the interior, while the walls are clad in parchment; their rough texture forms a tactile counterpoint to the luminous ceiling. A fireplace is set to one side, with sofas and lounge chairs casually grouped around it, allowing the atmosphere of home to extend and unfold. Moving into the rear courtyard, a seating area against the back wall slows the pace of the busy city, carving out a space for slowness.
From the timber of old shops to the glow of neon, from the fireplace at home to a moment’s pause in the courtyard, nice rice in Hong Kong—say gathers both the old and new faces of the city into this small house. As night falls, it glows alone, like the lamp glimpsed from afar on a late return home.
Team:
Design Company: say architects
Partner In Charge: Zhang Yan, Shan Jianan
Team: Sun Ziyi (Managing Partner), Cheng Yang
Photography: Wen Studio
Construction Team: Shanghai Zhonggeng Decoration Design Co., Ltd.
Lighting: Hangzhou Light Track Lighting Design Co., Ltd.
