A Fresh Take on Coffee Shop Design by Voyager Craft Coffee
While standard coffee chains offer basic service, they often lack inspiring or engaging decor. The new location of Voyager Craft Coffee, designed by Studio BANAA, breaks this mold by introducing an exciting micro-café that draws inspiration from the 1980s Italian Memphis style and the whimsicality of Pee-wee’s Playhouse.
In their sixth collaboration with the coffee company, Studio BANAA not only maintained a cohesive aesthetic throughout the brand but also chose to amplify their approach to color and design. “In this particular project, there was a unanimous decision to push the boundaries with vibrant colors,” states Dane Bunton, co-founder and managing principal of Studio BANAA.
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Situated in San José, California, the site was formerly a seafood restaurant encompassing a mere 1,000 square feet. The design team faced the challenge of creating an impactful, maximalist space within these confines. They imagined the layout as a canvas, drawing longitudinal sections to maximize spatial perception. Nastaran Mousavi, co-founder and design director at Studio BANAA, found inspiration in the paper cut-outs by the acclaimed French artist Matisse. “Matisse’s technique of using collages influenced our integration of materials and textures in a harmonious fashion,” she remarks.
The café features a standout sculptural coffee bar covered in pink perforated metal with shelves seamlessly integrated into its form. This round, skirt-shaped bar not only directs customer and staff movement but also stands out as a central element of the interior. The use of lacquers and powder-coat finishes ensures durability and cleanliness while adding visual depth to the space, which is limited in size.
Design continuity is evident with the use of curves throughout the café’s interior. Overhead, pendant lights with scalloped edges and squiggle LED insets introduce a playful vibe. This is complemented by blue steel tables and cushioned benches, rounding out the café’s furnishings. Additionally, wavy wall trims that mirror the patterns on the window ledges contribute to the cohesive aesthetic.
Adding a unique touch to the décor are two custom murals that abstractly depict the topography of Brazil and Ethiopia—the origins of Voyager’s coffee beans. These murals, painted in rich blues, greens, and corals, do not represent actual places but rather are evocative of imaginary lands, adding an element of fantasy and storytelling to the café’s atmosphere.
Despite its small size, the newly designed Voyager Craft Coffee location makes a significant impact through its thoughtful and bold design elements. “The architectural constraints were many, but by weaving together various design components, we created a space that feels larger than its physical boundaries,” explains Mousavi. “It’s a compact space that commands attention.”
Photography by Mikiko Kikuyama.
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