Located in a former plumbing fixtures store on Bowery—a major arterial road bisecting Chinatown—the site’s narrow storefront and deep floor plate typifies the neighborhood’s ground floor retail spaces, but was at odds with the organization’s civic ambitions. The renovation breathes public life into the space by recasting Chinatown’s vibrant street life indoors through three key elements: a cherrywood cabinet, a silver curtain, and a fleet of mobile carts. 

Reconfigurable from a business consulting office to a bustling night market, and from an art gallery to a movie screening, the interplay between these elements accommodate diverse opportunities for gatherings while honoring Chinatown’s rich heritage and entrepreneurial spirit.