A bright and welcoming space established by full height glass walls envelope the Houndstooth Coffee interior. An expansive U-shaped bar with split capabilities allows it to work as a full-service coffee bar during the day and cocktail bar in the evenings. The form and materiality of the bar defines and directs its uses. The quartz monoblock to the east is thoughtfully carved to receive customers and equipment while the opposite high bar is a white oak cantilevered surface. Above the bar is a sculptural white volume clad in alder slats that activates the space and intuitively directs customers from entry points on opposite ends of the storefront to point of service while concealing mechanical systems. The form, likened to a ship in a bottle, brings mass and focus to the voluminous interior. The architectural horizontality is complemented and balanced by vertically oriented and textured materials that respond to functional needs of durability and acoustic control.

Floor mounted stools, designed by the architect as butcher block white oak milled into a conical seat resting atop a sandblasted then clear-coated steel base, wrap the front of the bar and high counter seating along the window. A custom designed communal table, swiveling lounge chairs, and floating bench offer seating options for all levels of interaction.

As the natural light dissipates in the evenings, a soft warm glow illuminates the bar ceiling while the rest of the volume goes slowly out of focus, subtly transitioning to an intimate atmosphere.

OFFICIAL designed the newest location of Houndstooth Coffee at the Sylvan Thirty development south of downtown. We wanted to build on the success and design vocabulary of the existing locations yet create a unique identity for Sylvan Thirty. The new location includes a separate cocktail bar, Jettison (see next project). The design concept was driven by the dual functions of coffee bar and cocktail bar and their shared connection. 

We developed a concept of day to night with Houndstooth taking up the larger, more sunlit space and Jettison as a more intimate space for cocktails and conversation. They are connected by a corridor with sliding doors on either end that allow the spaces to operate independently or together. The owner wanted a 360 degree coffee experience so we created an island bar with a floating wood clad volume that we have been affectionately referring to as the cloud. The loftiness of the space with natural lighting creates a fresh openness and the cloud serves as a visual focal point to balance the space. The plan was developed around maximizing the interaction between the guest and the barista while emphasizing the coffee making process. The ceiling is folded up to direct guests to the barista while seating around the bar allows for interactions to continue throughout the visit. The finish materials are a combination of white oak, walnut, Spanish cedar, raw and painted steel, perforated steel and quartz. In keeping with the concept of day to night, the finishes are lighter in Houndstooth and darker in Jettison. We used gold accents throughout to tie the two spaces together.

There are a variety of seating options from communal tables, tiered benches, counter seating and individual café tables both inside and out. The furniture is a combination of pieces from local and national designers including two Austin studios, Petrified Design and RAD Furniture (now headquarted in LA). We designed the small café tables and some of the lighting as well as all of the built-ins.