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French studio Uchronia has completed the interiors for Cafe Shin in Paris, which features a central coffee counter topped with a washi-paper roof to emulate a traditional Korean house. More
Japanese studio Kooo Architects used custom-made bricks that combine compressed earth with waste tea leaves to create a natural feel inside the Théatre teashop in Beijing. More
Timber pillars and PVC pipes were left bare to blur the boundaries between the interior and exterior of cafe and sweet shop in Funamachi, Japan, designed by Schemata Architects.
Named Funamachi Base, the combined sweet store and cafe is located next to a park in the centre of Funamachi, a riverport town in central Japan.
The cafe is located close to a riverThis location inspired the design of its three buildings, which house a restaurant, sweetshop and a structurewith an office, kitchen and workshop.
“We envisioned the facility as an extension of the park, including the courtyard connected via flowerpots, so that the boundary between the inside and outside of the site would disappear and one would be gradually drawn inside,” the studio said.
Part of the foundation of the building forms a counterSchemata Architects’ founder Jo Nagasaka told Dezeen that the aim was also for people to wander into the space as they walk along the river.
“The main idea was to incorporate the greenway along the river into the facility,” he said. “The design is based on the expectation that people will find themselves entering into the shop as they walk along.”
Schemata Architects designed the cafe and sweet shop with large overhanging roofsLarge roofs extend out from the buildings of the 326-square-metre Funamachi Base, creating sheltered spaces where visitors can sit and enjoy the cafe’s bean buns.
“The distance between each building is taken and a roof is placed between them to create a semi-outdoor space, but to avoid clear boundaries between the inside and outside, the idea was to use the same materials inside and out,” Nagasaka said.
The same materials were used for the interior and exterior of Funamachi BaseMade from concrete and Douglas fir wood, Funamachi Base also features visible PVC pipes, a design choice that Schemata Architects made to underline the interaction between the interior and the exterior.
“The same materials were used inside and outside: calcium silicate board and putty coating, PVC pipes generally used for outdoor gutters were sandblasted and placed across the inside and outside of the building, and the eaves extended to create a space where the inside and outside are interchangeable,” the studio said.
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The foundation of the building was designed to bulge out, forming a counter from which to sell the sweets.
It was also used to create a bench for visitors to rest on and a well, as water is needed to create Japanese sweets.
A light-brown pattern decorates the facadesThe facades of the buildings have a light-brown pattern, adding to their industrial feel.
“White walls would make it look like a stylised Japanese building, so we dared to deviate from that,” Nagasaka explained. “We have chosen this so that the construction process is reduced and the finish is unusual.”
Schemata Architects recently designed the Komaeyu bathhouse in Tokyo, which was shortlisted for a Dezeen Award 2024 in the interiors category.
The photography is by Yurika Kono.
Project credits:
Architect: Jo Nagasaka / Schemata ArchitectsProject team: Yuko YamashitaConstruction: GikenCollaboration: Monochrome (solar panel integrated roof), Fukushima Galilei (kitchen)
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New York studio Office of Tangible Space has refreshed the interiors of the cafe at the Brooklyn Museum, ahead of the institution’s 200th anniversary next year.
The Brooklyn Museum Cafe is located in the building’s light-filled entry pavilion, which was added to the original beaux-arts building in 2004 by Polshek Partnership Architects (now Ennead Architects).
Furniture at the redesigned Brooklyn Museum Cafe is laid out like “islands and streams”Serving a menu by local restaurateur and sommelier André Hueston Mack, who runs the neighborhood restaurant & Sons, the redesigned cafe is intended for locals and museum-goers to enjoy light bites and drinks.
“Playing off the mission of the museum, [we] envisioned the cafe as a Brooklyn stoop where all are invited,” said Office of Tangible Space. “The space embodies the playfulness, creativity, craft, and expression that make Brooklyn and Brooklynites so unique.”
The cafe occupies a portion of the building’s light-filled entry pavilionThe locally based studio created a fluid layout that allows visitors to meander through the space.
Furniture is arranged in “islands and streams” that can accommodate diners in varied group sizes, as well as those stopping for a casual coffee.
Periwinkle-hued tables with angled sides form snaking shapes through the space”The space is anchored by large islands of seating and undulating streams of custom tables indicating the walking paths,” said Office of Tangible Space.
Aluminium chairs with seats and backs perforated with large holes accompany tables, including circular wooden designs for up to six guests and dark green two-tops.
Dark green two-top tables are accompanied by aluminium chairs perforated with large holesOther tables made from folded sheets of thin periwinkle-hued metal have angled sides, allowing them to form snaking shapes when lined up in a row.
Round cushioned poufs upholstered in pale blue and green are placed around the perimeter, which is demarcated by a set of freestanding wooden dividers and potted plants.
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“The incorporation of bold color and material add to playfulness and tactility of the space,” the studio said.
For the new space, the museum and Office of Tangible Space commissioned 10 local artists to design one-off stools that are peppered through the cafe.
Large round poufs are provided for more casual seatingThe handcrafted wooden seats, manufactured by Sundays, have been customised by Minjae Kim, Chen Chen and Kai Williams, Ellen Pong, Kim Mupangilaï and more.
“These handcrafted pieces not only complement the cafe’s design but also echo the philosophy that food, like art, is an immersive experience – engaging the senses, sparking conversation, and creating a connection between the creator and the audience,” said Office of Tangible Space.
The cafe was redesigned ahead of the Brooklyn Museum’s 200th anniversaryThe Brooklyn Museum’s building, designed by McKim, Mead & White and completed in 1895, will host a variety of exhibitions and events planned to celebrate its bicentenary.
These include Breaking the Mold: Brooklyn Museum at 200, a showcase celebrating the institution’s collection and legacy that opens in February 2025.
Founded by Michael Yarinsky and Kelley Perumbeti, Office of Tangible Space was longlisted in the emerging interior designer of the year category of Dezeen Awards 2020.
The photography is by Matthew Gordon.
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Australian studio YSG has added carpet-lined seating, cork flooring and high-gloss green paint to the Superfreak cafe in Sydney.
Located in the city’s Marrickville suburb, the space was converted from an ice cream factory into a pilates studio, which is located at the rear and the Superfreak cafe on the street front.
YSG has completed interiors with 1970s motifs for the Superfreak cafe in SydneyDrawing on a relaxed 1970s-style aesthetic, YSG opted for a colour palette of pale sandy yellows, avocado greens and deep earthy brown tones.
Contributing to the retro feel are checked brown and green cafe curtains, as well as vintage furniture pieces including a low, tile-clad wooden table and timber dining chairs sourced from online marketplace 1stDibs.
A semi-enclosed lounge-like seating area is off to the left of the entranceTo the left of the entrance, a large U-shaped timber banquette made with maple joinery marks out the main seating area It was upholstered in soft brown carpet material often associated with 1970s interiors.
The deep wrap-around, bench-style seating has inbuilt storage and an integrated plinth containing a record player and vinyl storage cavity.
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“Our clients wanted a space where locals felt like they could hang out,” YSG director Yasmine Saleh Ghoniem told Dezeen. “Also, they wanted to welcome pilates students to stretch out comfortably post-class.”
“A key component was to build sunken lounge-like seating via banquettes that created a cosy enclosure,” she continued.
Banquette-style seating with maple timber joinery is upholstered in a plush brown carpet materialReplacing the previously all-white decoration, YSG used glossy green paint for the walls and ceiling surrounding the timber service counter. A statement lamp crafted by American artist Autumn Casey sits on top of the wooden counter.
“Possessing a child-like expression of a classic Tiffany lamp, we granted it pride of place by the entrance beside the coffee machine,” said Ghoneim.
Elsewhere, the cafe is illuminated by an array of rice paper lanterns and vintage sconces paired with an angular wall lamp by Olivia Bossy.
The ceiling and walls surrounding the service counter are painted in a high-gloss greenThe same brown carpet material used for the lounge seating was also added to the exterior of an open kitchen counter and the tops of its high stool seats.
Above the counter, the ceiling and suspended storage shelves were painted in a high-gloss green.
Brown carpet material also lines the top of the bar stoolsA mural of a leafy green garden scene by Creative Finish was painted across concealed storage and refrigeration space behind the bar, with a gold-toned corner mirror feature off to the side.
While the clients initially intended to continue the brown carpet for the floor, YSG opted for cork flooring instead due to the nature of the space as a hospitality setting.
“Prioritising tonal and textural interest, we laid spongey caramel-hued sealed cork underfoot, also aiding the acoustics,” said Ghoneim.
The facade of the building was also painted greenTaking cues from the interior concept, the building’s facade was painted green with a street-side coffee hatch cutout incorporated for takeaway orders.
Other projects by YSG recently featured on Dezeen include a seaside home renovation in Byron Bay and a suburban home in Sydney finished with sumptuous materials intended to evoke a boutique hotel feel.
Photography is by Phillip Huynh.
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Spanish practice Plantea Estudio has completed the interior of Acid bakery in Berlin, which features a palette of austere and functional materials chosen to echo its urban context.
Acid Berlin is located on a corner lot in the city’s central Mitte district, with large ground-floor windows looking out onto Rosenthaler Strasse and Auguststrasse.
Plantea Estudio has designed the interior of the latest Acid bakery in BerlinHaving previously designed the bakery’s original outlet in Madrid, Plantea Estudio opted for a similar pared-back style with nods to Mitte’s gritty urban character.
The main materials used throughout the public areas include chestnut wall panelling and red Ferrés tiles, which contrast with the more austere sections finished in stainless steel and grey paint.
The interior is reflective of Mitte’s gritty urban character”The aim was to achieve a frank and efficient German ambience and at the same time a temperate refuge, a Mediterranean ‘nativity scene’ in the harsh urban territory of Berlin’s city centre,” said the designers.
The premises are located on the ground floor of a residential building, with large wood-framed windows providing a visual connection to the streets outside.
Orange resin flooring reflects on the surfaces of stainless-steel machineryThe L-shaped internal plan is organised with the workshop area on the longer side towards Auguststrasse and the cafe space facing Rosenthaler Strasse.
Ovens, fermenters, mixers and office equipment are arranged along the bakery’s back wall in front of stainless-steel panels that produce gentle reflections of the goings-on.
Tables for kneading and rolling are positioned in the centre of the room facing the windows, so passers-by can observe the bakers at work.
The cafe counter is clad entirely in stainless steelThis space also features a robust orange resin floor that complements the tonality of the tiled public areas and is reflected on the surfaces of the stainless-steel machinery.
The cafe area is organised around a six-metre-long counter containing a glass display case for pastries and space for coffee-making equipment.
The counter is clad entirely in stainless steel, giving it a utilitarian aesthetic that ties in with the materiality of the bakery.
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Behind the counter is a steel worktop and shelving system where bread is displayed in front of semi-opaque panels with a subtle orange-white gradient that allows a partial view through to the work area.
Tables, benches and stools by Copenhagen brand Frama are arranged along the facades and back walls so customers feel immersed in the cityscape.
Semi-opaque panels allow a partial view through to the work area at the backPlantea Estudio drew directly from the restrained forms, materials and tonality of the urban surroundings to design a space that feels raw yet refined.
“It is simple and austere, practical and functional, like the city but in no small measure warm and welcoming, bold and spontaneous like its inhabitants,” said the studio.
Tables, benches and stools are arranged along the facades and back wallsWoodwork, ceiling panels and bare brick walls are painted a unifying shade of light grey that echoes the simplicity and functionality of the adjacent mid-rise apartment buildings.
The panelled walls and red-clay tiles used for the flooring and built-in bench seating introduce warmer tones and bring an expressive touch of handmade quality to the space.
The tables feature white polyethylene tops set on chrome bases that add a further reflective element, while the birch stools provide another natural detail alongside the grain of the chestnut panelling.
Simple lighting fixtures includes wall sconces from Santa & ColeSimple lighting including wall sconces from Spanish brand Santa & Cole and a classic Japanese-style paper lantern provide gentle illumination.
Ceramic works by female artists Raquel Riola, Wendy Taylor and Saeam Kwon were chosen to add textural highlights that complement the character of the interior.
Decorative ceramic works add textural highlights that complement the interiorPlantea Estudio was founded by brothers Lorenzo and Luis Gil in 2012, with Carla Morán joining in 2017. Much of the studio’s work focuses on smaller projects including hotels, family homes, restaurants, cafes, shops and offices.
The studio’s output is characterised by a careful consideration of materials and fabrication, with previous examples including a store for footwear brand Veja featuring raw finishes and brutalist details, and a minimalist restaurant that uses plywood and chipboard to create a light and warm ambiance.
The photography is by Marina Denisova.
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A traditional Lebanese bread influenced design elements at this bakery in London by local firm MA Studio, where it’s the primary item on the menu.
Common Breads on Buckingham Palace Road, close to Victoria station, celebrates the centuries-old Middle Eastern food staple of kaak.
Common Breads was designed as a celebration of kaak breadIn Beirut, the bread is crafted from simple ingredients, covered in sesame seeds and moulded into an identifiable “purse” shape with a hole at the top, which allows vendors to hang the roll from a rig attached to their bicycles.
“Inspired by this quintessential street food, a passionate trio of friends decided to bring the story of kaak to London,” said MA Studio, led by Selma Akkari and Rawan Muqaddas.
The poured floor is speckled to look like sesame seedsThe studio designed the bakery’s interior to introduce the bread to new audiences in a contemporary setting.
Formerly an office, the 65-square-metre space at street level was transformed with warm materials and nods to the heritage of the snack it serves.
Kaak bread is also displayed in a window that looks into the kitchenThe original facade was altered to include two prominent reinforced columns at the entrance, while large windows create a connection between the outdoor patio and the indoor areas.
“The interior design interprets the vernacular vocabulary of Lebanese architecture through a curated palette of materials,” MA Studio said.
Caramel-toned wood creates a portal into the main service areaBeyond the glass door is a white-walled space with a speckled floor that mimics the appearance of sesame seeds.
This room offers seating on built-in window benches, facing a glass panel that allows a glimpse at the preparation process in the kitchen behind and creates an opportunity to display the kaak on metal hooks.
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A caramel-toned wooden frame references typical Lebanese architecture and creates a portal into the main service area.
Here, two perpendicular counters are wrapped in checkerboard tiles that playfully suggest the patterns of backgammon – a popular community pastime in Lebanon.
A white-painted room has bench seating built under the windowsTo adorn the walls above the two-top tables, Beirut lighting brand Fabraca Studios designed custom metal sconces that resemble kaak, complete with the signature hole at the top.
“This thoughtful integration of traditional elements creates an immersive cultural experience, inviting customers to step into a space where the essence of Lebanese hospitality and culinary tradition come alive, offering a true taste of Beirut in the heart of London,” said MA Studio.
Checkered counters provide a nod to backgammon boardsBefore joining forces, Akkari and Muqaddas ran separate studios in New York and London respectively, and collaborated on the interiors of a “minimal but warm” Brooklyn apartment.
Muqaddas also previously designed the Sloane Street Deli in the UK capital, which features green tiles and bentwood chairs.
The photography is by Felix Speller.
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French design studio Claves has transformed the interior of a Paris cafe, introducing bespoke retro-style decor that mirrors the architecture of local bars and tobacconists from the 1930s to the present day.
Claves founders Laure Gravier and Soizic Fougeront were assigned to craft a space fuelled by nostalgia and French tradition for the reopening of Le Cornichon, a contemporary neighbourhood cafe, bar and restaurant owned by Bertrand Chauveau and Paul Henri.
Claves has redesigned a contemporary neighbourhood cafe to evoke Parisian bistros”As the owners’ aim was to create a place where people from all backgrounds could come and go from morning to night, every day of the week, the decor had to lend itself to all kinds of scenes”, the design studio told Dezeen.
“The morning coffee while reading the paper, the business lunch, the aperitif with friends, the romantic dinner, the evening out.”
The interior of Le Cornichon incorporates nostalgic chrome fittings and laminate detailsLe Cornichon is positioned on a corner site, its facade and architecture designed to be indistinguishable from that of a local Parisian bar or tobacconist.
“These are highly identifiable but timeless places, which don’t refer to any particular period, or rather which cross the eras by adjusting as they go along”, said Claves.
Touches of different period styles are reflected in the cafe’s decor. Its interior was completely redone from floor to ceiling, and Claves also redesigned the bay windows and blinds for its facade.
A glossy lacquered wave ceiling is highlighted by painted walls with textured plasterClaves designed the cafe’s speckled mosaic flooring to reflect the typical architecture of the 1930s, while the creation of a glossy lacquered wave ceiling was a nod to 1950s Italy.
Textured plaster was applied to painted walls to create contrast and highlight the ceiling.
“We used the classic palette of Parisian bistros, including Bordeaux red, bottle green, cream and chrome details”, said the design studio.
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The counter and waiter station of the bar are covered in laminate travertine effect panels in matt red, with walnut effect worktops in gloss black.
Le Cornichon’s bar was clad in laminate fittings reminiscent of Formica, a material invented at the beginning of the 20th century and used in many post-war bars and tobacconists.
Neon green bar lights pay homage to the space-age design style of the 1960s”We wanted customers to feel comfortable and at home very quickly, that there would be ‘regulars’,” said Claves. “That’s why we’ve taken the codes that everyone knows and built a space that’s rhythmic, harmonious and punctuated with amusing details.”
1980s-style mirrors and chrome rod strips, inside and on the facade, add shine and give rhythm to the space. The studio also added neon-green lights to evoke the space-age design style of the 1960s and lend a party atmosphere to the cafe.
A decorative ‘smoke’ frieze aligns the velvet-padded banquette seating area”We also wanted to create a very cinematic space, like in Cédric Klapisch’s film Un air de famille,” explained the design studio. “This is reflected in strong markers such as the painted ‘smoke’ frieze and the fresco in the toilets.”
The decorative frieze, which evokes wisps of smoke, was created by decorative painter Mauro Ferreira.
Le Cornichon’s toilet displays a fresco mural paintingAccompanying laminate tables are green banquettes padded in thick velvet, which were custom-designed and produced by a Parisian workshop in the style of typical comfortable cafe bench seating.
Wave-shaped backrests echo the ceiling design and the wisps of smoke in the frieze. Chromed steel and black artificial-leather chairs were also custom-designed and made by another local workshop.
Numerous items were hunted down by the design studio to add a patina element to the interior, including the washbasin, mirror and bar lights.
“The pinball machine was hired from a vintage arcade game enthusiast and the postcard holder was bought from a specialist website,” said Claves.
Before founding Claves in 2022, Gravier and Fougeront gained experience working together over several years for French interior designer Pierre Yovanovitch.
Other retro cafe, bar and restaurant interiors that have recently been featured in Dezeen include the Fika restaurant in Almaty, Kazakhstan, by NAAW Studio and the Sant Ambroeus Coffee Bar Aspen in Aspen, Colorado, by Giampiero Tagliaferri Studio.
The photography is by Matteo Verzini.
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Finnish design studio Yatofu collaborated with young and local craftspeople to create El Fant Café and Bar in Helsinki, Finland.
The cafe and bar comprises three front of house spaces across 70 square metres, including a central bar with two adjoining dining spaces either side.
El Fant Café and Bar features furniture by Helsinki-based workshop PuutamoYatofu intended to inject the energy of Helsinki’s contemporary design community into Torikorttelit, in Helsinki’s old town, where El Fant is located.
“Our approach was rooted in celebrating the timeless qualities of Finnish design while infusing it with a contemporary twist,” Yatofu’s founders Angela Lindahl and Yihan Xiang told Dezeen.
Paja&Bureau created curved galvanised steel shelving for this projectGuests enter into the central bar area featuring a custom galvanised steel bar designed by Yatofu in collaboration with local custom metal workshop Paja&Bureau.
They designed the bar counter and matching shelving units to “add a touch of industrial modernity to the space”. The steel units bend and curve optimising the flow of the three connected interior spaces.
Guests enter El Fant into a central bar areaYatofu also closely collaborated with Helsinki-based carpentry workshop Puutamo, led by young female carpenter Eveliina Ylöne, to create solid pine furniture.
Yatofu purposefully worked with young and local craftspeople on the project, allowing them “to inject the space with fresh perspectives and a genuine connection to the community,” the studio told Dezeen.
“By working with local craftspeople, we were able to explore new possibilities for local production and celebrate the creativity and innovation that defines the current generation of Finnish craftsmen,” they added.
The cafe and bar features a pair of Howard Wall lamps by GubiEveliina Ylönen and Yatofu opted for four-centimetre-thick pine boards from northern Finland to create all the custom furniture pieces in the space.
“Pine was selected for its historical significance in Finnish craftsmanship and its natural characteristics, durability and warmth,” said the studio.
The interior includes dining chairs from the Finnish brand VaarniiThe result of the collaboration includes a set of stools, benches and tables with both natural and stained finishes.
“Together, we explored how to maintain the wood’s natural beauty while introducing bold, contemporary design elements such as the saturated tomato-red dye, which added a modern twist to the traditional material,” Yatofu explained.
The bar table features tomato-red stained finishThe stained finish was applied on a table and chairs set in the bar area, as well as benches in the dining areas.
Paired with dining chairs from the Finnish brand Vaarnii, the solid pine pieces counterbalance the cool-toned steel.
The earth-toned plaster walls are hand-finishedThis balance was also formed through the choice of earth-toned plaster walls and polished concrete flooring. As well as a series of warm-hued spotlights and wall lights, including a pair of Howard Wall lamps by Gubi.
“The juxtaposition of warm natural materials like pine with cooler, industrial elements like galvanised steel was designed to evoke a sense of balance and harmony,” Yatofu explained.
This balance of materials across the design scheme aims to create an “atmosphere that feels both relaxed and invigorating”.
The interior balances contemporary and traditional design elementsOther projects featured on Dezeen by Yatofu include a furniture showroom in Hangzhou, China and a refined teahouse interior in Helsinki, Finland.
The photography is by Aleksi Tikkala.
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