As Ladybug Girl and her Mama chose to take the long way home, here lies the stop Banelé. Bringing the outdoors in, the shop seats within a shop. The landscape serves as a contrasting respite zone. Some times, the ladybug sings. Some times, the ladybug bakes.

At the heart of the collective building lies a connecting spine—a common corridor that threads through the different shophouses. A Living Room for the neighbourhood—welcoming all, from families and youth to staff and visiting delegates, and fostering incidental encounters and shared experiences.

The design of Alma House is deeply rooted in its historical context. Situated on the grounds of the former Nan Chiau High School, our vision pays homage to this legacy. We drew inspiration from the past, reflecting on the concept of returning to one's roots—hence the name "Alma House."

We wanted to retain, reinterpret and reassemble the existing space in surprising new ways. The aim was to create a space that invites visitors to slow down and have a calm coffee experience while the scent of roasted coffee lingers in the air. And what's more relaxing than a walk in the park?

Reflective surfaces are integrated into the main bar and central furniture, bringing fragments of the ceiling down into the field of view. As guests approach, sit and move around the bar, the architecture appears again in reflection—sometimes whole, sometimes abstracted.