The New York-based design team Nemaworkshop is made up of architects, designers and “thinkers”.
The innovative design that characterises their work “challenges” architectural stereotypes and typologies, presenting original spaces that are in harmony with their cultural and social surroundings.
The owner of the D’espresso espresso bar in central New York approached the Nemaworkshop studio to renovate the space, with the ambition of expanding the business into a chain of stores.
To that end, the architects proposed designing a striking space that would be easy to recognise in the busy city centre.
The idea behind the design of the espresso bar is clear: “turn the establishment upside down”. Influenced by the neighbouring New York Public Library building, D’espresso takes the form of a library turned through 90 degrees!
The wall surfaces are covered with life-size photographs of books, printed directly onto the tiles.
The custom-made tiles are laid continuously, covering the floor, the central wall and the ceiling. The glass surface behind the bar lights the rest of the space, while the opposite wall is clad in wooden parquet.
The attention to detail and the creative use of materials and lighting elements give the space a distinctive, original character, which will also be a defining feature of the D’espresso chain of stores.
www.despresso.com
Text: Katerina Latoufi (Architect)
