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Fatface Cafe 3.0

Baicai Design

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Bronze
night view - TOPIA VISION
big island in the space - TOPIA VISION
view from the street - TOPIA VISION
night view - TOPIA VISION

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Comments
Innovation
Functionality
Creativity
Eco-Social Impact
Total
JURY VOTES
Single-Brand Store
6.33
6.79
6.81
5.65
6.4
Jaime Velez
Jaime Velez Design Partner at Velez + Valencia Arquitectos
8.38
8.67
9.02
7.67
8.44
Yen Kien Hang
Yen Kien Hang Founder / Design Writer / Author at OutOfThePackage
I think I need something more. Even...
5
6
5
4
5
Firas Alsahin
Firas Alsahin Co-Founder and Design Director at 4SPACE Design
6
7
6
5
6
Elise Zoetmulder
Elise Zoetmulder Founder at Zoetmulder
Minimalist design to the bone, but...
6
6
7
4
5.75
Jason Su
Jason Su Design Director at HCD Impress
4.74
5.02
4.88
5
4.91
Ayça Doğan
Ayça Doğan Head of Design at CBRE Netherlands
8
8
8
6
7.5
Andres Fredes
Andres Fredes Creative Director / Partner at ALLDSGN
7
7
8
6
7
Carolin Krebber
Carolin Krebber Founder at Büro agata/ Co-founder Format F/ allmannwappner
5.95
6.24
6.24
6.67
6.28
Evans Lee
Evans Lee Founder & Design Director at Evans Lee Designers
6.5
6.8
6.8
6
6.53
Philippe Paré
Philippe Paré Principal and Managing Director at Gensler
7.26
7.21
7.55
7.36
7.35
Lin Chen
Lin Chen Founding Partner at Topos Design
5
7
6
5
5.75
Kristen Becker
Kristen Becker Partner at Mutuus Studio
7
7
7
5
6.5
Mohammed Adib
Mohammed Adib Chief Design Officer at Dewan
5.45
6.38
7.02
5.81
6.17
Client
Fatface Coffee
Floor area
41 ㎡
Completion
2022
Budget
EUR 16,000
Lighting

Our design implants the brand values into the space, and proposes “one's own rebel" as the main thread that runs through all the elements. Rebellion is often labeled pejoratively. In this era, people are quick to jump on the bandwagon. Perhaps a spontaneous and proactive rebellion is precisely what we need in order to achieve one’s own realization. Being able to be oneself freely seems to already meet the bar of a rebel. 

Moreover, choosing to remain authentically true to oneself as we experience the hardships in reality is a precipitation of persistence and courage. We hope to convey such attitude of the brand through the space. The project is located on a small street full of greenery. The original building is a one-story extension at the corner of two old-fashioned residential buildings. The gross floor area is 41 square meters. We retained the original wall, and built a new volume from the inside as the store. 

Visually, the building itself manifests as a growing force and presents as if an instantaneous state for when it reaches the surrounding wall. In order to push the space to express itself to the fullest extent, we kept minimal decorations, leaving only plain beige walls, letting the compositional relationships in the space stand out. The minimalist design highlights the sloping windows, drawing your eyes’ attention to the contrasting image of the old building and the sky outside. At the same time, the accompanying light and shadow naturally brings out and enhances the beauty in all our materials and details. 

As for furniture, we have designed for it to reach maximum potential and versatility. When all the furniture is gathered into an island as a whole, the 6m x 1.5m countertop has a dramatic visual impact, engaging the guests with delightful interactive experiences. This area can be used for training, tasting, or any event with a small gathering. At the same time, the space has curatorial capabilities, the uninhabited walls can serve small exhibitions from time to time. When the furniture is scattered, it can accommodate more customers and offer them better privacy than the first arrangement. Regardless of the furniture placement, we have reserved a relatively large fixed bar area for baristas to operate and greet people, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. 

Living in a world so vast, we come to know the infinity within our own selves too. While there are certainly challenges surrounding us, perhaps resolving our internal struggles proves more significant to the individual. We hope this place can make people forget about their physical bounds, and focus on the essence of the message. We hope our design offers an uncompromising persistence, a desirable rebellion, and the freedom to explore more possibilities.