Dihua Wei

The original municipal structure is complemented by a later extension, together forming a composition of three distinct volumes: the old building, a basement level, and the new addition. The building’s orientation responds directly to the sun’s path — catching the sunset to the west and the sunrise to the east — while maintaining a strong visual and physical connection to the sea.

The design vision organizes the program around an open seating concept, where spaces flow freely into one another rather than being divided by rigid partitions. The building services and storage are discreetly tucked into the back and basement, freeing the main volume for a rich, layered public experience.

From Punts to Counter

The design of the counter draws its inspiration from a cherished local tradition: the building of punts, the small wooden fishing boats once ubiquitous in the harbours of the region. Crafted by fishermen in their workshops, these humble yet ingenious vessels were defined by their 16 frames— the ribs that gave each boat its distinctive curved form.

Just as a punt’s planked hull wraps continuously and seamlessly around its skeleton, the counter’s curved timber frames rise from the floor on either side, clad in planking that echoes the tight, smooth envelope of a boat’s exterior. In this way, a piece of everyday working furniture quietly carries within it the memory of the men and boats that once shaped life along these shores.