Fabryka Kavy coffee shop

Architects: N+K Architectvra: Andrii Nazarenko and Khrystyna Kosmii (http://nplusk.com)

Location: Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine

Area: 138 m²

Year: 2017

Photograph: Andrii Shustykevych (http://znymka.if.ua/)

Location

Fabryka Kavy (Coffee Factory in Ukrainian) is the first café with its own coffee roasting in town. It is situated in a building of the post-soviet period not far from the town lake and park. The café owners got premises with high ceilings and large windows which let in lots of light from the setting sun.

Conception

We tried to depart from the stereotyped loft-style coffee shops with chalkboards and create an unconstraint, simple and light space for relaxation, work or meetings. Massive dark service counter inside a white space works as a dominant and creates an illusion of a shape within a shape. This gives the interior a greenhouse touch. Dismantling of internal partitions and dropped ceilings increased the volume of the premises, and the replacement of windows with the frameless ones let in more light.

Premises

The main space of the café also serves as a place for cupping and studying. Roastery is exposed to the café, so the visitors can watch the coffee roasting process through the glass panel which cuts off the unnecessary noise. The café has its own green coffee beans storehouse and a confectionery.

Materials

The production processes prompted us to make terrazzo floors. Exposed authentic ceiling with open ventilation, reinforced concrete slabs of the counter, and large amounts of metal support this mood. In contrast to cold metal and concrete, beech tabletops and chairs, and birch panels are meant to add comfort and warmth to the interior. Brass lamps create and diffuse warm light which is emphasized by brass plinths.

Solutions

Vertical gypsum plaster moldings were applied to the empty white wall behind the couches. It created the required fullness and a play of light and shadow without taking the emphasis away from the service counter. Furthermore, the wall started to function as an acoustic panel, diffusing sound and reducing reverberations (echo). The service counter construction, washstand, tables, couches, shelving, decorative panels and screens, coat hooks, pots for plants, and napkin holders are designed especially for this project.