Atelier A, known for its simple and practical style, has designed a new hamburger restaurant in Shanghai called Cheers Burger that has gained immense popularity. Located in the old city center of Shanghai, the restaurant is designed to blend in with the surrounding environment, respecting the building’s history. The restaurant’s small size and minimalist design create a unique dining experience, with customers often spilling out onto the street to enjoy their meals.
Cheers Burger, a hamburger restaurant in Shanghai that has recently garnered attention, is the latest creation of Atelier A (Atelier A). The restaurant adheres to the studio’s consistent simple and practical style, yet it unexpectedly stands out and has gained widespread popularity. Situated at the intersection of Yanqing Road and Changshu Road in the old city center of Shanghai, the restaurant is surrounded by a multitude of independent eateries and shops. 
However, many of these businesses have closed down due to the impact of the pandemic. In their place, numerous stylish and trendy establishments have emerged, creating a stark contrast to the original ecology of the old city center. Therefore, Atelier A aimed to preserve the building’s natural, aged appearance as much as possible when designing Cheers Burger, avoiding excessive intervention and striving for harmony with the surrounding environment. The studio also adheres to its design philosophy of prioritizing functionality over decoration, respecting the history of the building. The building, measuring under 30 square meters, was likely a utility room in its previous life. During renovations of the neighboring shop earlier this year, the deep green textured porcelain tiles on the facade peeled off, revealing the original beige tiles and traces of the original doorway and small window. 
During the current design and renovation, the original dimensions of the doorway were restored and reinforced, and the blocked-up small window was reopened to alleviate the sense of confinement within the narrow space. The upper part and right side of the facade retain the beige porcelain tiles, while the left side, due to extensive damage during the renovation earlier this year, exposed the underlying concrete. Therefore, the exposed concrete was repaired using the same material, and vertical stripes were created using a rake, adding a touch of whimsy. A wooden panel was attached to the exterior to serve as an information board for posting menus and announcements. The interior decoration features only simple fluorescent tubes and birch plywood cabinets. 
The space is enveloped in ochre handmade bricks, creating a warm atmosphere and harmonizing with the aged, rustic style of the facade. The restaurant’s cramped space necessitates a takeout-only format, without seating. However, the overwhelming popularity of the restaurant has resulted in customers dining along the street, forming a unique and charming sight.
Project Information:
Project name: Cheers Burger Hamburger Restaurant
Project type: Restaurant space, Hamburger Restaurant
Project address: 185 Changshu Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai (intersection of Yanqing Road)
Average per capita consumption: 75 yuan/person
Design company: Atelier A
Design team: Zhu Yanwen, Li Mengjie
Space area: 29 square meters
Main materials: Tiles, birch plywood
Photo credit: Studio FF
