CAFE DESIGN AND BUILD PROJECT IN DAVAO CITY
Words by Jane Santos • Video by D Foodtogrpaher • Photos by Paola Mendiola • Branding by BAD Practice • Interior Decors & Styling by Blank Canvas Studio
‘Good feeling and day-changing’ was the brand of this cafe shop in Davao City, Philippines. A real estate tycoon now also a coffee enthusiast had a vision of a friendly and youthful place where these tight-knit coffee & tea lovers can enjoy a good cup of drink with a healthy meal.
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More than great coffee and tea was translated into an enjoyable ambience by Studio Archemist through its interiors and well-defined finishes. The concept is a mix of Contemporary Modern and Scandinavian, summing up to an Eclectic homey ambiance with its locally sourced interior decors. Colors green and white were carefully proposed by the studio presenting a welcoming and friendly atmosphere.
Kofitearia now Kafe Luna was a 2 -month design and build project. The design process took about a week and a half and the construction took about 6 weeks. It was a challenge at hand for a young team of architects as their first design and build project given a tight deadline and an initial budget.
Plan and Design
The plan of the 48sqm shop is divided into 3 main segments– the kitchen, the main service/coffee counter and the dining area. The kitchen, which is the heart of the store, was designed to look bigger than what it really is, right placement of kitchen utilities thru proper space planning and organization, whitewashing the walls and integrating luminous lighting for a cleaner look and for a conducive cooking and baking area.
Design was focused on the coffee/ service area to capture one's attention and be directed to the main product- which is coffee! The studio purposefully created a decorative wall accent perpendicular to the floor tiles to create a colorful and delectable ambience. An area where customers can appreciate the coffee-making process while enjoying their cup.
The dining area can serve 21 customers including the stool chairs by the counter. A huge mirror on the wall was installed to make the area look bigger and adding wood accents to make it cozier. Ambient lighting was also part of the design to create a nice environment together with purposeful location of speakers to have that good-feeling vibe!
Cost & Construction
Every project and site is different from one another. The cost and renovation depends on the existing area’s status and materials/ finishes that will be used. Given the existing status, the renovation had to include the following scope of works to be able to follow the proposed and approved plan. (a) drywall demolition, (b) repainting of walls,(c) repair of ceiling, (d) masonry works and tiling for the flooring, (e) lighting, CCTV and electrical works, (f) installation of glass and mirror, (g) outdoor area tiling, (h) replacement of roll-up door, (i) counter carpentry and tiling, (j) plumbing and restroom renovation, (k) and lastly kitchen extension with roofing works. For the interior, there were some additional works where the studio fabricated some furniture , cabinets and counters. The Initial Budget was stretched out during the on-going construction to about 50% percent more. The total project cost was around Php 16,000.00/sqm excluding the decors and some kitchen appliances and the design fee.
Today, the light-filled shop is a melange of color and texture, though it is in no way chaotic. Adding timber, colorful geometric tiles and white countertop plays a youthful overall effect that is at once enthusiastic and clean, a tacit quality befitting a space for big and small moments.
