Juan Valdez Flagship Café
New York City
Hariri & Hariri - Architecture with RIR Arquitectos

Organic shapes blend old and new café style

© Paul Warchol

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For more photos click on 'photos & drawings' above. To see the people and products behind this project click on 'people & products.'

The National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia, a non-profit organization, works to raise the standard of living for more than 560,000 Colombian coffee farmers and their communities through the promotion and sale of Colombian coffee. Creator of the Juan Valdez and 100 percent Colombian Coffee brands, it recently opened its first U.S. Juan Valdez Café in New York City.

In designing the space, architect Hariri & Hariri set out to redefine the coffeehouse for the 21st century. It took the sedate program of a traditional 19th-century Viennese café and exploded it into an undulating multisensory experience that combines fluid forms, cutting-edge materials, and the aroma of Colombian coffee. The architect conceived of the café as a link between Columbian and U.S. cultures.

Inspired by the shape of the coffee bean, Hariri & Hariri sculpted the café storefront into a folded plane made of coffee-colored teak. Inside, native stone slabs on the floor and counters, and woven teak wall panels represent the warmth and earthiness of Colombia. A soft, free flowing “liquid wall” continues throughout the entire length of the interior and wraps around a lounge area at the rear. This architectural element dominates the space and incorporates several program elements, including customer seating. The liquid wall represents the ephemeral flow and aroma of coffee, creating a long-lasting impression on café visitors.

Formal name of Project:
Juan Valdez Flagship Café

Location:
New York City

Gross square footage:
2,100 sq. ft.

Owner:
The National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia

Architects:
Hariri & Hariri - Architecture
18 East 12th Street, New York, NY 10003
212-727-0338 tel.
212-727-0479 fax
www.haririandhariri.com
info@haririandhariri.com

Photo by Peter Freed

with:
RIR Arquitectos
Bogotá, Colombia