This Strathcona location for Trees Organic Coffee represents the consolidation of their head office, bakery, roasting house and flagship store into one location.
A spatially challenging brief that demanded efficient use of space, it also yielded the rare opportunity to share the production of the core product. To harness this opportunity, a large factory-style window frames the view to the coffee roaster that forms a dynamic backdrop for the cafe. Minimalism was placed at the core of the design approach in order to showcase the production process in the background and the retail product in the foreground. This concept drove the use of clean, bold linear forms that traverse the space and serve to provide a blank canvas for retail offerings and a clear guide for customer traffic. The minimalist concept also saw the implementation of a restrained palette that combined references to the local region and brand values whilst embracing the raw aesthetic of the space and ‘industrial’ function of the location.
Expanses of white-washed Douglas Fir paneling line the interior and promote warmth while large slabs of Fir define the service and dining areas. Charcoal surfaces and trims provide contrast and depth against the wood, with the addition of suspended greenery to bring a complementary softening element.
