Architecture studio Linehouse has unveiled its latest project in Shanghai, China – a striking three-story food market called Ink Ink Market that features an innovative translucent sloping facade designed to create visual connection with the surrounding community. The 1,790-square-meter market is located within a historic residential neighborhood that was once home to the Tiantong'an Railway Station.
The building's most distinctive feature is its sloping facade constructed from lightweight translucent polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) plastic. This design element pays homage to Shanghai's traditional laneway architecture, which commonly features sloped roofs with protruding chimney windows. The facade incorporates mesh screens punctuated by a series of balconies that provide outdoor dining spaces for upper-floor restaurants.
The translucent sloping screens serve multiple practical purposes while creating architectural drama. They provide shelter for the entrance piazza and shade for the upper-level balconies, while their see-through quality allows pedestrians to observe the bustling market activities inside. "The skin acts as a translucent second screen to diffuse the strong sunlight into the interior, while at night, the light from within radiates through the screen, creating a lively collage of activities and serving as a beacon for the neighborhood," Linehouse explained.
The interior design centers around a dramatic atrium that connects all three floors of the building through stepped terraces positioned at different levels. Natural light floods the interior spaces through a glass ceiling, where a suspended timber trellis helps filter direct sunlight. According to Linehouse, "The interior of the market pays homage to the public halls of historic train stations and gives a nostalgic nod to old Shanghai through the use of dark walnut wood and playful mosaic paving patterns."
The ground floor functions as an adaptable open market hall that can easily accommodate rotating events and vendors. Smaller market kiosks populate the central atrium area, while larger permanent shops with street-facing seating occupy the building's perimeter. A central column featuring a custom-designed clock serves as a natural meeting point, echoing the iconic timepieces commonly found in railway stations.
Linehouse created a distinctive radial floor pattern using tumbled cobblestone to blur the boundaries between the indoor market space and the outdoor street environment. A black metal staircase lined with dark walnut wood guides visitors between floors, maintaining the design's cohesive material palette throughout the building.
The upper two floors house larger restaurants that take advantage of outdoor balcony spaces positioned beneath the protective sloping facade. These elevated dining areas offer patrons views of the neighborhood while remaining sheltered from the elements. The market's restroom facilities showcase playful design elements, featuring compositions of Carrara marble mosaics and green-toned tiles framed by metal trim details.
The ground-floor bathroom receives special treatment designed to recreate the grandeur and nostalgia of old Shanghai meeting halls. This space features a round carved marble sink topped by a custom chandelier, all surrounded by a colonnade of mirrors lined with vertical lighting fixtures.
Linehouse, established in 2013 by Alex Mok and Briar Hickling, now operates offices in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Auckland. The studio has recently completed several food market projects across Asia, including a Shanghai market inspired by Victorian greenhouses and a Macao project adapted from a historic Art Deco building. The Ink Ink Market project was developed for client Vanke, with design principal Alex Mok leading a team that included Cherngyu Chen, Yunbin Lou, Mae Szeto, Jingting Tang, Fei Wang, Jingru Tong, Wang Jue, and Felix Saw. Photography for the project was provided by Wen Studio.
