Folded Flight

Across Asia, the red-crowned crane has long been associated with longevity, immortality, and spiritual transcendence. To help China’s Tai Kang Group bring a legend to life, we started with the simple form of a paper origami crane.

Delicate creases are articulated in the hand-polished concrete exterior, cast with precision to hold glass panels that will ultimately enclose the space.

A spiral stair in the café leads to a meditation platform beneath a skylight, reinforcing the sense of flight in a tranquil setting.

An opening in the folds give the small, intimate space an expansive view of surrounding wetlands and a place to watch cranes take flight during funeral ceremonies.