Tucked inside The Bauhinia Hotel in Central, noc’s newest coffeehouse, designed by Hong Kong studio Arkaunis Design, brings the brand’s philosophy of slow living to life. The space invites people to pause, breathe, and find calm in the middle of the city’s chaos.
Led by designer Edwin Chow, Arkaunis explored how light, texture, and time could shape perception. “We wanted to turn the idea of ‘slow living’ into something you could actually feel,” he says.
At the heart of the coffeehouse, a six metre long washi paper light box glows softly, filling the room with a quiet warmth that encourages stillness.
The light fixture is designed as more than illumination, it signals a rhythm, gently reminding guests to slow their pace. Nearby, a bookshelf lined with carefully chosen titles invites visitors to put their phones away and simply enjoy a coffee and a moment of quiet. “We want each visit to feel like a small ritual, an intentional pause,” Chow explains.
Much of the design draws inspiration from the organic forms and movement of coffee itself. The swirling textures on the bar and feature wall have been created using hand applied finishes in wood tones, noc’s signature grey, and soft beige, echoing the flow of steam rising from a freshly brewed cup. Every surface feels crafted and natural, adding to the sense of warmth and mindfulness.
By day, sunlight spills across the reading corners and bar seats; by night, the space transforms seamlessly into “noc.turnal”, a relaxed lounge animated by the crackle of a vinyl record player spinning slow jazz and soul.
“The music changes the energy completely. People speak more softly, it becomes a place to connect or simply sit and listen,” Chow says.
Seating is arranged to balance privacy with openness. Guests can choose an intimate corner for themselves or gather at communal tables under soft lighting. A long bar invites curious coffee lovers to watch the baristas at work, where the sound of water and gentle clinking of tools adds to the meditative atmosphere.
Located on one of Central’s busiest streets, the coffeehouse has been designed as a counterpoint to its surroundings. “Outside, the city never stops. Inside, we wanted stillness,” Chow explains.
Wood panelling and layered lighting soften the city noise, while plants and warm tones create a sense of transition at the entrance – as if stepping from the urban rush into a hidden oasis. Space constraints, inevitable on a hotel floor, require clever design moves. The modular furniture serves multiple purposes – from a reading nook by day to lounge seating at night. The record player doubles as both a centrepiece and soundscape, while the bookshelves act as subtle spatial dividers. Continuous testing and close collaboration with the noc team helped the designers refine every flow and detail.
The centrepiece and the suspended washi paper light box captures the essence of the coffeehouse’s calm. Made from layered Japanese paper and framed in natural wood, it casts a diffused glow that shifts with the day – bright in the morning, mellow by dusk.
“It feels like light floating through mist,” Chow reflects. The effect is poetic and grounding, a soft rhythm that slows the pulse of city life, inviting people to linger, breathe, and simply be.”
Arkaunis Design
https://www.arkaunis.com/
Tel：+852 3499 1630
Address：Room 810, Yuen Fat Industrial Building, 25 Wang Chiu Road, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong
