The Rambler is not what you expect to find in an industrial building in the midst of Hong Kong’s container terminals. But that’s exactly what local creative studio, A Work of Substance, intended.

The stylish café, which serves the building’s workers, customers and guests, could sit comfortably amongst the chic eateries across the harbour, instead of the multi-storey Goodman Interlink building with concrete floors and forklift trucks.

Named after the nearby Rambler Channel, the body of water which separates Tsing Yi Island and the Kwai Chung, the café features a soft palette of materials, including pale timbers, in stark contrast to its surroundings.

The striking façade features glazed ceramic tiles in ocean blue, a nod to its port location. While, by necessity, it is large space of over 7,000 sq ft, the clever layout and timber-lined ceilings create a sense of warmth, and a refreshing, restful ambience.