Joe & Dough, Orchard Gateway:
Caffeinated Pocket

The unit is spatially very long and narrow, with a very high ceiling. Introducing a more human scale was key in making the cafe feel more welcoming. A division between the servery and seating areas is aligned with a column, breaking up the length of the frontage. The raised platform at the back creates a visual layering through the level change, and seated patrons become part of the backdrop.

A small retail nook is neatly wedged between the platform and counter, the shelving aligned with a broken edge of wall panels, and the level change. To avoid monotony, material changes create visual emphasis for the signage and ordering area. Instead of disappearing into the hideaway, hole-in-the-wall location, the cafe sits comfortably and stands out proudly to passers-by.