Share to
Caffettiera
By : Ménard Dworkind architecture & design
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 14th edition
Discipline : Interior Design
Categories : Accommodation, Restaurant & Bar / Café & Food Concession : Gold Certification
In Italy, going to the coffee bar is not just about the coffee. It’s about taking a break from the day, meeting up with friends or taking the time to contemplate life. Caffettiera Caffé Bar aims to bring that culture to North America at its 745-square-foot commercial space in the heart of downtown Montreal. The café’s design was inspired by the 1990s. Andreas, the café owner, fondly remembers this as a better time in Italy, when it still had its own currency, a less turbulent political climate and the best soccer team. Caffettiera offers a relaxed atmosphere where you can stop by and stand at the counter for a quick espresso before work, or lounge on the tan leather banquettes for an aperitif and a bite to eat. A black monolithic terrazzo bar snakes its way through the space, integrating a series of sandwich, pastry and retail displays that are bookended by two points of sale. Signs slide on an orange painted steel beam above the bar and indicate where to pay and order depending on the daily traffic.
An up lit stepped bulkhead curves around the bathroom block. Curved mirrors, divided by concrete columns, give a sense of spaciousness to the otherwise tight café. Pushing the 90s theme even further, pendant lights were designed using yellow telephone wire. In designing Caffettiera an emphasis was put on nostalgia with the help of a scattered array of vintage books, stickers, toys, and photographs from the 1990s.
Collaboration
Architect : Ménard Dworkind architecture & design
