Between the dense pine forest and beach of Rizhao stands Chiringuito Café, also known as Coffee and Sea. The project arose from a commission to reclaim an area which for years had accumulated scattered buildings, all disorderly and at odds with the natural environment. The aim was to reorganize the place and build a café that would serve as a transition between the vegetation and the coast.

The new building consists of three elongated glass rectangles arranged in a staggered pattern, parallel to the coastline. The simple and precise layout creates a sequence of transparent open spaces over the sand, offering uninterrupted views of the sea and the tops of the pine trees. Each volume rises 70 centimeters higher than the previous one, defining three levels that structure the program. The terrace is at the highest point, 6.8 meters above ground level.

The sliding side doors can be opened completely, transforming the interior into a space that merges with the beach and lets the sea breeze in. The ceiling and the solar protectors, made of recycled aluminum tubes painted in five colors, prolong the building’s chromatic rhythm and filter the light with a play of reflections.

The name ‘Chiringuito’ is a tribute to the seaside establishments found along the Spanish coast, although the client preferred to keep the name ‘Coffee and Sea,’ in line with other projects inspired by the relationship between architecture and nature. The result is a lightweight transparent construction, thought up for enjoyment of the surroundings.