Cafe

Bold, red-colored shipping containers were used to create a (12 meter long) visitor area extension for the National Theatres Company of Korea. Designed as a social zone for theatregoers, the space was equipped with internal sliding partition walls that can be opened or closed to allow for flexible use of the interior spaces.

Island Life The appealing, handcrafted appearance of the concrete kitchen island is a happy accident, the result of the concrete not settling fully in its timber framing. When the framing was removed, the builder, Peter Davidson, was worried that Davor and Abbe would be disappointed with the bubbled result and offered to start the process again, but they loved its one-off feeling and persuaded him to keep it that way.

A custom table designed by Staffan Holm, capable of seating 26, runs the length of Anders Bergström and Kristina Lagercrantz’s kitchen in Gothenburg. Unfold pendants by Form Us With Love for Muuto, Lilla Åland chairs by Carl Malmsten for Stolab, and a painting by Hampus Pettersson complete the space.

"The owner had a great vision of a business focused on an open, interactive exchange between the customer and the barista," Dunn says. "Juggling the practical workflow of coffee-making—and selling—with the desire for a low, obstacle-free counter that would be conducive to that interaction was probably the biggest challenge." The matte white hexagonal tile covering the sides of the counter was purchased from Design and Direct Source. Photo by Patricia Chang

Dunn hired Buck O'Neill Builders as the general contractor for the space. Weston Martin designed and built the custom stools, tables, and benches in the cafe. "Our contractor, craftsmen, and fabricators did a great job executing our details for the spots where the steel and wood come together—the wall trim, the seating supports, the stair railings, etc.," Dunn says. "I always enjoy working through those types of connections, and it's satisfying to see them built well." Photo by Patricia Chang

Because of the fact that customers sit so close to the chef, the hand rolls are served at their ideal state. Tom Nozawa, one of the founding partners of the Sushi Nozawa Group, was inspired by the childhood memory of being handed fresh temaki from his father as soon as he prepared it for him.

In the basement, the tree rests in a bucket of fertile soil and is connected to irrigation. Photo by Wouter van der Sar.