Project Overview
Interior Design
Budget
RM 250,000
Status
Completed
Duration
10 weeks
Completion Year
2022
Interior Design Project Info
Sitting on one of the oldest urban fabrics in Johor Bahru, Senses Studio carefully carved out a sculptural, "cave-like" pocket space. Tunneling deep into the bustling street, the sinuous cave houses a cozy cafe with a sense of order and calmness. The juxtaposition of bustle and calmness adds a new layer to the multi-faceted streetscape, achieving a harmonious balance in its entirety.
The design concept takes inspiration from the client's passion for pastry - thoughtfully curated and laid upon with a multitude of layers. Resonating itself with the manifestation of cave formation, the cavernous characteristic is sensitively perpetuated across different facets. Undulating walls, earthy-hued palette and softly contoured interiors help to bring a sense of intimacy into an otherwise large, and impersonal space. The organically-shaped openings punctuate the storefront strategically, allowing pedestrians to catch glimpses of the cavernous interiors.
As exemplified in the layout, an uninterrupted and fluid flow ties everything together in various objects and scales. The cavity-like pathway leads the visitors to meander through the spaces, moulded with a wiggly wall, intimate seating nooks and a customised bar counter. The custom 3-tier hanging decoration is specifically crafted while taking on the elements of the client's logo, complementing the double-volume space with its spiritual anchor. Echoing the end of a cavernous journey, the winding path brings the visitors to a well-lit, spacious bar area, which is tucked away on the cafe's mezzanine level.
The interconnected volume breaks the rigidity of typically deep and dark spaces within a traditional shophouse - thus making it easy and pleasant for one to wind down and enjoy a daily cup of coffee in its continuous flow and ambience. Functionally, the mezzanine level maximizes visibility across different levels, encouraging interactions between visitors and baristas. In addition, multiple skylights bring in filtered sunlight to permeate the key spaces, echoing beams of sunlight penetrating the cave through crevices.
In the familiarity of urban routines, it has been difficult for all of us to recognize how we immerse ourselves in our daily rhythms restlessly. Tapping into the opportunity of juxtaposition against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving streetscape, the cave-like cafe envisions itself to be a place where the visitors can consciously slow their pace through the exploration of a cavernous journey.
Interior Design Works Included
Interior Design Project Areas
After Photos
Before Photos
