Penguin Café

Date & Location
August 2024 - December 2024
Orlando, Florida

Gentlemen of the sea.

Penguin Café is a unique dining concept that combines premium culinary experiences with live penguin displays, bring these “gentlemen” to the city center. Targeting high-spending customers, particularly families with young children, the café offers penguin-themed dining, interactive activities, and event space rentals. By partnering with certified zoos, aquariums, and premium food suppliers, the café ensures animal welfare, high-quality service, and ethical operations. Penguin Café aims to establish itself as a distinctive and profitable destination in the hospitality industry.

Project Type
School Project
”Hospitality Entrepreneurship”
University of Central Florida

Professor
Yoo-Ri Kim

Keywords
Concept Design,
Themed Experience Design,
Aquarium, Restaurant

Penguin Café

The 1st floor houses the kitchen and main dining area, while the 2nd floor features a seasonal exhibition space, a gift shop, and a small dining section. The 3rd floor is designed as a multifunctional space for hosting events such as film screenings and salons; when not in use for events, it serves as an additional dining area. The penguin exhibit spans all three floors, offering a unique and immersive experience: from the seabed view on the 1st floor, through the water body on the 2nd floor, to the surface and rocky shoreline on the 3rd floor. This layout provides guests with an opportunity to explore and enjoy distinct perspectives, enhancing both their dining and viewing experiences.

Design Process 1

Using a curved surface to create both the width and depth of the water offers a dynamic experience while meeting the standards of animal welfare. This design incorporates multiple floors to showcase different views of the water body: the surface and rocky land, the water body itself, and the seabed. This multi-level approach provides a comprehensive perspective, enriching the visitor experience while ensuring the environment supports the animals' natural behaviors and well-being.

Design Process 2

The café, located in the city center, aims to create a high-class vibe by blending urban sophistication with a subtle maritime theme. Instead of relying on overt nautical elements, the design will utilize repeating columns and the textures of architectural materials to evoke the essence of the old maritime narrative and context, combining a sense of discovery with modern elegance.

▲ An example of a mixed-species exhibit featuring King Penguins and African Penguins can be found at Xpark in Taiwan, showcasing the successful integration of different penguin species in a shared habitat. Another notable design is the gallery-style penguin exhibit at Basel Zoo in Switzerland, which offers visitors an immersive viewing experience, emphasizes the seamless blend of aesthetics and functionality, providing an engaging environment for both the penguins and the visitors.