California-based Blue Bottle Coffee has launched a new location in the chic Shibuya section of Tokyo. An urban retreat installed between two parks, Blue Bottle Coffee Shibuya was crafted by Keiji Ashizawa Design to reinforce soothing qualities of the nearby parkland and instill an inviting place of respite. “We wanted the guests to feel the warm atmosphere as if they had been invited to visit the welcoming house of a close friend,” says studio founder Keiji Ashizawa. “To make the feeling, we tried to connect the exterior and interior, as well as the lighting plan.”
Visitors are greeted by a large curved counter clad with tiles made from volcanic ash, which serves as a transitional focal point that links the exterior and interior. Furthermore, more than 7,000 tiles are installed throughout the café to infuse warmth. Tables of varying heights are featured across the ground floor in addition to a lower table positioned to frame views of Kitaya Park.
On the upper level, a variety of seating arrangements accommodate customers, beginning with a sunken area lined with a banquette upholstered in autumnal orange textile and accented by a gray sheer curtain for added privacy. A central oval dining table serves as a communal gathering point, while a high counter table equipped with a library-style light is apt for groups in the rear of the space. Another low tiled coffee table is surrounded by lounge chairs and a sofa as well.
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