Paloma Cafe in Shanghai renovated by dongqi Architects is located in a building with a history of almost one hundred years. The project includes the renovation of the entrance on the first floor, the second and third floors and part of the façade. During the design process, architects opened most of the complicated and compact spaces to expose the original structure of the old building. The contrast between old and new materials is certainly unique, in which historical elements are traces of the past. The new façade is the classic style of local architecture. For all the small intricate spaces in the original interior, a brass line is designed throughout the building from the entrance and extends to the second and third floors as a subtle clue.

The compact scale is one of the main objectives of the project. The original ceiling and decorations are removed to re-expose the original boiserie of the old building. The wooden beams and the structure are waxed and reinforced. Green blue and light pink are used for the entire scale and create a dreamlike atmosphere. The logo of Paloma Cafe, which is a little bird, is cut on steel panels attached to the walls of the staircase. Pink, navy blue and dark green are the colors chosen that make up the color palette, coordinated with the brass and the original color of the woods. Even the terrazzo floor is customized according to the color of the wall. During the renovation, the designers tried to keep the wooden structure as before. The brass wraps part of the ceiling structure as the extension of the linear element of the first floor and becomes part of the bathroom track.