深圳OIL club改造设计OIL Club Renovation, Shenzhen

OIL is widely known as an electronic music institution. Less well known is how ROOMTOO, its new 70 m² space, was saved from spiralling costs.

Background: an exacting brief

We first met 杨杨, the operator of OIL Club, in 2020. She had intended to commission us to convert a warehouse on the site into a café, but the pandemic put the project on hold. The project resumed in late 2024 with a new brief: transform a street-facing space of around 70 m² into ROOMTOO, a hybrid venue for coffee by day and dancing by night. Her priorities were clear: a distinctive identity and strict cost control. The project became a negotiation between bespoke construction and tight cost targets.

First proposal: an idealistic experiment with the facade

Our initial proposal centred on two strategies:

1. An opening facade

Large areas of glazing would bring daylight into the café, while full-height folding doors would open the space to the outdoors. A stainless-steel half-cylinder at the entrance formed a vestibule to the main hall, and a floating square screen of glass-fibre-reinforced plastic (GRP) grating concealed the outdoor air-conditioning units.

2. A floating box

Rather than adding interior finishes, we proposed a cantilevered steel structure that removed the outer columns and freed up the ground floor. The mezzanine would appear as a glowing box suspended above the street.

The problem

The property manager would not accept projecting forms above the entrance, and the glazed facade could not provide the sound insulation required for intense rave events. The first proposal was abandoned.

Second proposal: a raw industrial approach

In early 2025, we changed direction:

1. A solid, sound-insulating wall

Following discussions with 杨杨, we dropped the daytime café programme and replaced the glazing with a solid wall offering better sound insulation. Its profile would align with the neighbouring building.

2. Cooling-tower fill as formwork

To reflect OIL Club's industrial character, we decided to expose the facade's concrete structure. After comparing a range of options, we developed an unconventional use for PVC cooling-tower fill as casting formwork, giving the concrete a distinctive industrial texture.

3. A motorised lift-up window and concealed door

The window became the facade's only focal point, encouraging interaction between inside and outside. A motorised lift-up window would give opening the facade a sense of occasion, while a concealed door maintained a continuous, uncluttered surface.

The problem

The property manager then introduced a rule prohibiting an occupied mezzanine. 杨杨 also asked us to improve the dance floor's acoustics. Together, these changes required another reworking of the interior.

Third proposal: rethinking acoustics and layout

The design entered its third iteration in April 2025:

1. Two stages, indoors and out

We repositioned the DJ booth beside the window. With the motorised window open, the DJ could serve both indoor and outdoor dance floors, substantially increasing the venue's commercial flexibility. The mezzanine was reduced in size and reserved for storage, with no public access.

2. Natural acoustic materials

We changed the mezzanine from steel to timber. Timber's natural sound absorption and diffusion helped improve the acoustic environment while balancing aesthetics and cost.

Discussions with several suppliers revealed that the proposed in-situ exposed-concrete facade demanded a high standard of workmanship and risked pushing costs beyond control.

The built proposal: making the project viable

In August 2025, we proposed the final version for construction:

1. Textured precast panels

We replaced the in-situ facade with blockwork and precast concrete panels. The distinctive cooling-tower-fill texture developed in the second proposal was successfully transferred to the panels. This retained the original design intent while substantially reducing construction complexity and cost. Carefully designed joints resolved the junctions between the panels, window opening and door.

2. Hybrid steel-and-timber construction with reclaimed wood

Steel cables eliminated the mezzanine's outer columns, reducing their impact on the dance floor. Reclaimed timber offered environmental benefits and a distinctive, non-standard character that could not be replicated with off-the-shelf products. It also provided better value than expensive proprietary acoustic panels.

On site: 45 days under pressure

To be ready for OIL Club's eighth anniversary, construction had to be completed in just a month and a half. Unexpected issues arose throughout:

1. Levelling the foundations

Demolition revealed a significant slope in the existing floor. We urgently replaced the prefabricated bases for the steel I-section columns with cast-in-situ foundations, adjusting their heights to keep the mezzanine level.

2. Door loads and handle design

The concrete panels mounted on the concealed door created a considerable load. We commissioned heavy-duty pivots and an opening-assist mechanism, and repeatedly tested handle sizes with female users' grip and strength in mind.

3. Integrating the motor

Budget constraints and motor cooling requirements led to several revisions of the lift-up window. A suitable product was found only shortly before completion, allowing us to achieve the intended concealed-frame appearance.

Conclusion: the architect as a solver of complex problems

Good commercial design is often shaped less by a generous budget than by the pressure of constraints. An architect's value lies not only in generating ideas, but in balancing different interests and resolving unexpected problems. At OIL, numerous bespoke construction details helped us find a balance between cost, function, artistic expression and brand identity. In the end, all parties were pleased with how fully the design was realised.

We thank the contractor for their professionalism and the client for their openness to innovation and continued support.