Coffee culture continues to thrive in the contemporary world, with a noticeable shift from the dominance of chains & franchise stores to a growing market for prosumer coffee. As more and more coffee consumers become prosumers, individuals who both produce and consume, they are turning coffee-making into a hobby, even a ritual, and are expecting coffee shops to keep up. Consumers are becoming more knowledgeable, paying close attention to the source and type of beans, brewing methods, and equipment. They also appreciate the design of coffee machinery, not just for its functionality but for its aesthetics, efficiency, and space management. This surge in interest, especially in Asia, has led to changes in coffee shops' operations. Many individual coffee shops, responding to the rise in consumer spending power and interests, are motivated to focus on creating unique, immersive experiences for an ever-growing marketable audience.
Cafe: The Latest Architecture and News
Oficina Bravo: A Guide to Coffee and Ice Cream Shops in Santiago de Chile
Sebastián Bravo leads Oficina Bravo, an architectural practice founded in Santiago de Chile that has been developing projects with a clear strategy: to contribute to the city by efficiently using architectural, economic, and constructive resources through renovation and remodeling. Among their projects are spaces that openly interact with the immediate context, including works of patrimonial, administrative, and residential value such as Casa Compañía and Zagreb Office, as well as a large series of gastronomic and commercial spaces such as Felix Café and Apolo Helados.
Due to its design process and its ability to transform and restore spaces, Oficina Bravo was selected by ArchDaily as one of the best new architectural practices of 2023. They make a point of talking with clients, understanding them, and involving them in the process. This, they say, is the only thing that ensures that the ideas behind the project survive with dignity.
We have selected seven coffee and ice cream shops in Santiago that were designed by Oficina Bravo, while also conducting an interview to get to know their inspirations, working methods, and future projects. The result is a true daily guide for you to enjoy their work, their design process, and a good cup of coffee.
Landscaping in Cafes: 10 Projects That Integrate Greenery Into Architecture
Whether it is for a break, relaxation, or even free wifi, coffee shops tend to host a series of situations that involve more than just enjoying a cup of coffee. A quiet and pleasant place, which in addition to everything else offers a good hot drink, is a great attraction for those looking for a coffee shop to spend a few hours.
In this sense, a landscape project that integrates greenery into these environments can significantly increase the comfort of customers, by easing temperatures and offering a barrier against atmospheric, noise and visual pollution. In addition, after the restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, open spaces, with natural ventilation and gardens became priorities for many projects, including coffee shops.
Cafes and Bars in China: Examining the Spatial Routine of Drinking
Both tea and alcohol in traditional China were similarly aestheticized, and both influenced the language of literature and art. People used to exchange alcohol as a gift in a way that they later would with tea. Today, more and more cities in China have embraced this drinking culture that passed down from generation to generation, and reinterpreted with a new contemporary fashion, which is constantly evolving in the urban cafes and bars.
Lattice Book House / Scenic Architecture Office
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Architects: Scenic Architecture Office
- Area: 350 m²
- Year: 2016
Vilnius, the Capital of Lithuania, Opens its Public Spaces for Cafes, to Help with Physical Distancing
The Lithuanian capital Vilnius has decided to allocate its public spaces to bars and cafes, to encourage the reopening of restaurants under required physical distancing measures. Turning the outdoor space into one vast open-air café, the city is taking new safety measures to step into the next phase of the lockdown.
The Immersive Theatre / Lukstudio
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Architects: Lukstudio
- Area: 260 m²
- Year: 2017
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Manufacturers: DuPont, Gainker, Houxiang, Huili, Imondi
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Professionals: Norman Copenhagen, Hay, Shanghai Savor Construction &Decoration Co. Ltd., Studio Illumine
Return Café / Atelier FANZHENG
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Architects: Atelier FANZHENG
- Area: 120 m²
- Year: 2018
Longshang Books Cafe / atelier mearc
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Architects: atelier mearc
- Area: 188 m²
- Year: 2017
Hui Coffee Lifestyle / Vanished Architecture
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Architects: Vanished Architecture
- Area: 200 m²
- Year: 2017
Chongqing Tiandi Art Museum / Shenzhen Huahui Design
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Architects: Shenzhen Huahui Design
- Area: 1600 m²
- Year: 2017