The Caffè by Mr. Espresso

2024 Design Awards Citation Recipient

The Caffè by Mr. Espresso

The Italians call the ritual of stepping into a caffè and enjoying espresso a “pausa” or a pause — a moment that allows for reflection and community. In Italy, the pausa is typically taken while standing at the bar.

The goal of this design was to honor this most basic daily ritual and experience as meaningful, as art.

Informed heavily by Italian cuisine, which is masterful at creating great complexity with minimal ingredients, we chose to minimize the number of materials used, and to celebrate their innate richness. Crafted from slabs of a single white oak tree that fell in Sonoma in 2008, the primary bar frames nature as the focus. The perimeter of the caffè hosts a Calacatta marble ledge, a nod to Italy’s most ubiquitous, yet luscious, materials. Behind the bar, hand polished copper contrasts with the organic nature of wood and stone. The Italian notion of contrast, “chiaroscuro”, provides further inspiration. Overhead, wood is used in a diaphanous fragile manner in contrast to the heavy stable oak bar. Highlighting the verticality of the space, it is a gestural move to provide both monumentality and intimacy; to form both an object (from outside the bar) to a space (once underneath). From some angles it is airy (chiaro); from others it is quite solid (oscuro). Though the shapes and fabrication process are modern, it is a nod to the domes and arcades of the Renaissance and Baroque periods.

//comments

This is minimal but rich project elegantly conceived with a conscience. It is a complete, unexpected everyday space which there should be more of. Material use, culture, impact on a transitional neighborhood are thoughtfully addressed.

//framework for design excellence measures

Measure 1: Design for Integration

This project is an interior build out in a brand-new building. The biggest impact we made was in attempting to minimize materials used, and when selecting, to select as sustainably as possible. The primary focus (the oak bar) is from a tree that fell in Sonoma in 2008 and had been lovingly stored by Arborica. We minimized the amount of dropped ceiling to what is mandated by health codes. The artwork was created using computer technology to nest the forms to minimize wood waste. The stain/finish of the artwork is all natural, coffee and beeswax, hand applied. Operationally, the Caffe filters all water on-site used for consumption, has a rigorous recycling and composting program, and utilizes no single use plastics.

Measure 2: Design for Equitable Communities

The caffe is designed to support everyone in the community. Though it is not a typical cafe with tables, there is a variety of seating. While many businesses were shuttering in downtown Oakland due to the pandemic and other issues, the client remained committed to this location.

Measure 3: Design for Ecosystems

This is an interior build out in an existing (but newly) developed urban site. As such, we have not responded to much of the landscape and site questions as they are not applicable.

Measure 4: Design for Water

This is an interior project. No additional measures beyond following code were taken, with the exception of water filtration for all fixtures that serve food prep, including all coffee brewers, etc.

Measure 5: Design for Economy

This is an interiors project. The building where the project is located is new and as such and we were able to partition off only as much space as needed for our project, thus “right sizing” the space. The kitchen is designed to allow for slight expansion for a baking capacity, utilizing off-site prep. The space is also designed to allow for wine service in the future. The architect assisted directly in cost cutting by design/building the overhead art installation.

Measure 6: Design for Energy

Due to being an interiors project, no real strategies were available to us for enclosure or glazing. Great care was taken to “right size” all of the equipment for their program and menu.

Measure 7: Design for Well-Being

We were not allowed by thebase building to add operable windows. In order to hit targets for air filtration, we needed to alter the existing, all new storefront to allow for air intake. One substantial material choice due to health concerns was the choice of copper. While we like it aesthetically for the design, we also were designing right at the beginning of Covid, and copper has natural antiseptic qualities.

Measure 8: Design for Resources

The wood used for the bar in the project is from an oak tree that naturally fell in Sonoma in 2005. Cabinetry was built using FSC certified plywood. Overhead artwork uses FSC certified plywood.

Measure 9: Design for Change

The bar and overhead artwork are all de-mountable and can be taken by the tenant should they not renew their lease. The kitchen is primarily made of “off the shelf” furniture and/or equipment that can be removed from the premises. Much of the bar itself, and the kitchen, is designed for some expansion to the client’s program and/or menu. There is adequate space in the kitchen for additional baking equipment, and the bar can accommodate the addition of beer/wine and gelato. The use of copper was driven not only by its coloration, but by its antiseptic nature, particularly to coronaviruses.

Measure 10: Design for Discovery

To date, most of the feedback from the general public (customers) has been beyond positive for the space and its function. We have been working directly with their baristas and employees to determine if any alterations are desired for the bar area. That said, many conversations occurred during the design, collaborating with their baristas to ensure things would flow properly, including height adjustability/ergonomics, etc.