Swimming Pool Studio aimed to bring the "relaxing and refreshing" hues of blue sea and white sand to this cafe inside a Shanghai office building (+ slideshow).

The Paras Cafe is located in the Hongqiao Vanke Center in Shanghai, a building populated by offices and retail spaces.

Through its design, Swimming Pool Studio hoped to provide staff inside the building with a modern-looking place to relax and socialise.

Related story: Four O Nine transforms greenhouse into plant-lined coffee shop

The team decided on a blue- and white-toned colour palette based on the Mediterranean Sea, along with a modern selection of materials and furniture.

"The design inspiration comes from the amazing scenery of the Mediterranean Sea where blue sea and white sand make people feel relaxed and refreshed," they said. "Clear features are integrated with modern design philosophy, maintaining the perfect balance through a series of changes and connections."

Inside, blue walls are lined with a grid of square white tiles.
This pattern is broken in places by grey diamond tiles that create the illusion of boxes protruding from the walls ? a technique also used by Tomás Alonso for the Camper store in London's Covent Garden.

A giant metal mesh structure hangs from the ceiling above a long wooden table. Other seating areas in the cafe are pushed up against the walls, and a few small circular tables are placed in front of the window.

A second metal mesh struct...