Baobao

In Baobao street-food restaurants you can taste handmade baozis while having a look at the local greenhouse where vegetables are grown, all signed by Linehouse studio.

Linehouse was asked to create a new branded architectural language for 甘其食Baobao, a street food brand in China and the US, specialized in selling the traditional Chinese street food baozi – steamed bread buns filled with meat, vegetable or sweet stuffing.

Top: Linehouse, Baobao, Tongji University, Shanghai, 2015. Photo Dirk Weiblen. Above: Baobao, Yangpu, Shanghai

Linehouse created a spatial narrative that married with the brand’s ethos: from garden to plate, using the freshest vegetables in handcrafted baozi. In doing so they introduced a glass greenhouse building for the exhibition and growth of plants. The project layout has a series of house frameworks: the chefs occupy the greenhouse and their performance of rolling, handcrafting and steaming the baozi is framed by this insertion. At high level, a shelf wraps the framework with drooping greenery and branded icons stamped on the back surface. At lower level a high leaner also wraps the structure, with hanging lights allowing guests to linger and observe the activities within the kitchen.

Linehouse, Baobao, Tongji University, Shanghai, 2015. Photo Olivier Hero Dressen

The greenhouse is composed of hand glazed green tiles and two tones of wood and glass. This house extends out to the street, operating as a leaner for guests, and further framing the activities within to the exterior. The cashier and service area plays on the idea of a wheelbarrow and garden tools, allowing the menu boards to hang from above. Bluestone cobbles line the floor in the customer area creating a sense of the garden path, and the streetscape beyond. Two leaner tables sit adjacent to the greenhouse. Wood panels rest on a framework, with white metal threading through to become a mechanism for the lighting system.

Linehouse, Baobao, Tongji University, Shanghai, 2015. Photo Dirk Weiblen
Linehouse, Baobao, Yangpu, Shanghai, 2015. Photo Dirk Weiblen
Linehouse, Baobao, Yangpu, Shanghai, 2015. Photo Dirk Weiblen
Linehouse, Baobao, Yangpu, Shanghai, 2015. Photo Dirk Weiblen
Linehouse, Baobao, Tongji University, Shanghai, 2015. Photo Dirk Weiblen
Linehouse, Baobao, Tongji University, Shanghai, 2015. Photo Dirk Weiblen
Linehouse, Baobao, Yangpu, floor plan
Linehouse, Baobao, Tongji University, floor plan


Baobao, Yangpu and Tongji University, Shanghai
Program: street food restaurant
Architects: Linehouse
Graphics: Evelyn Chiu
Area: 62 sqm
Completion: 2015