Tarek Merlin, director and cofounder of Feix&Merlin Architects, and his partner Mark Osman-Barter have opened Corner, a new coffee shop and creative space in London’s New Cross section. Home to a subterranean art exhibition and event space, the tranquil urban sanctuary puts the LGBTQ+ community first and promotes inclusivity through its branding and restorative design.
“We are passionate about equality, diversity, and inclusion, and we wanted this to be reflected in our approach and the way we present ourselves to the community—a welcoming space open to everyone,” says Merlin. “It was really important for us to visibly show our support for the LGBTQ+ community, so we chose to add the LGBTQ+ letters to the windows, as a proud statement about inclusivity as you enter.”
The gut renovation of the corner space revealed textured brick and complementary honey-hued timber floors. “We were so lucky with what we found behind the walls and under the floor coverings, a perfect backdrop to work with when it came to dreaming up the interior design,” Merlin adds.
Light sage green and a darker mallard green anchor the space’s soothing color palette, which also includes pink coral accents. Accessible washrooms feature pink basins offset by blue and green notes. Custom marble pendants handmade by Italian artisans warmly illuminate the café’s interior while serving as an intriguing focal point. Three arches further entice the eye, evoking a unique skew of perspective with mirrored surfaces that enlarge the space.
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