Starbucks container café

The Starbucks container café in Hualien is a striking example of sustainable, modular design. Conceived by the internationally acclaimed Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, the project transforms 29 recycled shipping containers into a two-story drive-thru café that harmonizes industrial materials with a refined, nature-inspired aesthetic.

Architect:
The design was spearheaded by Kengo Kuma & Associates. Kuma’s signature approach is evident in the café’s grid-like arrangement of containers, the incorporation of skylights to flood the space with natural light, and the exterior form inspired by both the organic shapes of coffee trees and the traditional Chinese bucket arch.