Starbucks Huilan Store (Container Café)

Starbucks Hualien Bay Store (洄瀾門市) is a Starbucks that combines modern design with local cultural features. It is also the first Starbucks in Asia built entirely from shipping containers. Designed by world-renowned architect Kengo Kuma, the building is composed of 29 containers once used in ports worldwide, stacked to form a four-story inverted pyramid. These containers, reborn in a new form, are not only a clever reuse of materials but also a continuation of their maritime journey, carrying their stories along with the aroma of coffee into Hualien.

The architecture is full of ingenuity: large windows and skylights are left between the interwoven containers, allowing natural light to pour in from different angles. The resulting interplay of light and shadow resembles sunlight filtering through trees, echoing Hualien’s image as a land blessed by nature. Inside, visitors feel as though they are in a living forest of shifting light, making every sip of coffee an encounter with nature.

Each container on the exterior still bears its original symbols and markings, traces of their past voyages across oceans. Enjoying coffee here feels like embarking on a journey together with these containers, experiencing footsteps from around the world.

The interior design incorporates elements of the Amis indigenous culture of Hualien. Bold wall art, vibrant colors, and tribal motifs appear throughout the space, reflecting local vitality while aligning with Starbucks’ philosophy of “sharing and savoring.”

Hualien Bay Store is also the first Starbucks in Hualien with a Drive-Through service. Customers can choose to relax with their coffee indoors or simply order from their cars and take their drinks on the go.