A cup of coffee is not only a person’s early morning staple, it is a culture – the coffee culture. Coffeehouses have cropped up on the corners and intersections of every major street worldwide to service their loyal patrons; it is a booming business and a yummy one at that.
People, who go out for a cup, want the ambiance that suits their choice of blend. A coffee house should have spaces where a person can be social and interact with others, as well as areas for people to sit in the dark and ponder (or browse through the internet on their handhelds – people hardly reflect on themselves these days).
With this in mind, The Coffee Salon was born. It was a project based in the Netherlands, where the client wanted a warm interior, with wood and soft furniture, appropriately spaced to cater to customers with the above mentioned ‘moods’.
Whilst planning, adding the mezzanine floor seemed like a no-brained, because nothing sets up a space better than multiple heights. Also, sitting in the built-in booths whilst people-watching (in relative secrecy thanks to the planters) is something that many would enjoy.
Since the double heighted ceiling does nothing to mask noise between both floors, people throughout the cafe hear the gentle hum of conversation (and perhaps smell the pervading aroma of the latest blends). I wanted the ceiling itself to be a point of interest, where the boxes were given different levels and various material finishes. The metallic ring chandelier falls just above the social area (a.k.a the conversation table). I thought perhaps the chandelier could serve as a conversational point between like-minded individuals meeting for the first time (there is so much more to design than just aesthetic).
The fireplacesserve to break up the space, and store books. People are encouraged to read should they come unaccompanied, though the iPads on each table may detract from such a purpose (the client wanted 2-3 on every table).
Ultimately, The Coffee Salon had to be a place synonymous with warmth, comfort, and high end design. I’m sure once it’s built, there will be customers aplenty.
Unless the coffee’s bad.
