Barde vanVoltt designs coffee showroom to feel like "stepping into a coffee cup"
Dutch design studio Barde vanVoltt has blended coffee-inspired textures with recycled materials made from coffee beans to create an immersive showroom for DAK Coffee Roasters in Amsterdam.
Barde vanVoltt aimed to create a sensory experience that not only highlights the craftsmanship behind coffee but also reflects DAK Coffee Roaster's dedication to quality and sustainability.
"We envisioned a space that is not just functional but also experiential – we wanted to create a haven for coffee lovers to immerse themselves in the journey from bean to cup," Barde vanVoltt co-founder Valérie Boerma told Dezeen.
"The design intentionally fuses modern aesthetics with sustainable materials and textures, providing a sensory experience that highlights the art of coffee-making."
The showroom is divided into two distinct yet interconnected areas. At the front, an open retail space and barista station allow visitors to observe the coffee-making process to encourage engagement and interaction.
Towards the back, a more secluded tasting room offers an intimate setting for curated coffee-tasting sessions and educational workshops.
"This deliberate separation allows for both casual visits and deep coffee exploration," Boerma explained.
A chrome tunnel leads from the retail space to the tasting room, which is clad in deep brown wood wall panelling inspired by the "rich hues of freshly brewed coffee".
"The warm, enveloping materials of the tasting area combined with the soft lighting and chrome tunnel create a sensory transition that immerses visitors and makes them feel as if they are stepping into a coffee cup," Boerma said.
The tasting room also features bar stools designed by Danish architect Eva Harlou in collaboration with the Danish Technological Institute and the University of Copenhagen.
Made from coffee-bean shells and industrial plastic waste, the stool was created to recycle companies' resources more efficiently.
The retail space's soft clay walls and concrete flooring serve as a backdrop for the bespoke furniture and coffee products, while the ceiling features a coarse-grained soundproof finish by acoustic company Acosorb that was chosen to ensure a calming ambience.
The custom wooden benches and handcrafted terracotta tiles that wrap the barista workstation add warmth to the space, and are contrasted by the stainless steel display shelving and tables.
The studio collaborated with bio-based material designer Marijke Jans to create other bespoke items for the showroom, such as lamps, planters, trays and candle holders. Crafted from spent coffee grounds, the objects are biodegradable.
"Marijke Jans' expertise in bio-based materials allowed us to incorporate organic waste, particularly spent coffee grounds, into bespoke decorative elements," Boerma said.
"These pieces are the result of exploring the potential of turning organic waste into bio-based design and exemplify how waste can be transformed into beauty."
Other cafes recently featured on Dezeen include a bakery in Dubai that references the "natural tones found in baking" and a boba tea shop in Mexico City with polycarbonate walls and ever-changing lighting.
The photography is by Sarah Wijzenbeek.