Kyu coffee bar

We took design cues from Japanese minimalism with this coffee stand. The elimination of clutter is its central design principle — so we opted for a streamlined silhouette, and kept the types of materials to a bare minimum. The structure features plywood and oak veneer, with a concrete counter.

Since a large concrete slab would give the kiosk a really industrial feel, we wanted the coolness of it to be juxtaposed by something warm — so oak veneer was chosen. Using wood instead of metal also creates a cosy and inviting vibe, reminiscent of cosy Kyoto hole-in-the-wall coffee shops.

Taking an understated approach to the shape and materials allows the emphasis to be on the different textures — wood grain, nonuniform tones of grey.