Lumen Coffee (Espresso Bar)

Sona Manukyan & Ani Avagyan

Lumen Coffee (Espresso Bar & Roastery)

• Architects

Espresso Bar and Roastery “Lumen Coffee” is located in the very center of Yerevan, on Teryan street, on the first floor of a residential building built in the mid 90’s. It’s inside the ordinary residential block, isolated from the main roads, walkways and tourist attractions. Its entrance is between the building’s entrances and it is not highlighted at all.

photo_credit Sona Manukyan & Ani Avagyan — Sona Manukyan & Ani Avagyan

The space has a 5 meter high ceiling, a prolonged floor plan with three uneven triangular oriel window-like volumes, without a shop front, or any significant glazing. The only source of natural light are the small windows located on a 3 meter level, like the windows of the apartments above.

The high ceiling gave us an opportunity to design a mezzanine floor, thereby to divide the space functionally and visually. We’ve highlighted the “horizontal cut” of the interior by color.

On the lower (white) level are located the roastery, a small shop, the bar, lined with white ceramic tiles, the WC and the stockroom. There’s a corner bench made of plywood next to the bar counter, a round table in the middle and a small sofa, also made of plywood.

On the upper (sky blue) level there’s a vinyl record player, which is placed right above the bar desk. This area has an altar-like appearance, especially during daylight hours, where the coffee and music interflow into each other thus creating an exciting atmosphere.

There are low back stools in front of the railing which becomes a table overlooking the lower level as a kind of patio, and the lounge zone.The two levels are connected by a glossy black spiral staircase which looks like an art object as it is the only curvilinear element in this laconic design.

The entrance is located in the furthermost oriel window, and it is lower from the ground level by 3 steps. In front of the entrance is a shop stand and on the right side is the roaster. This zone is separated from the main space by a “floating” bridge, which is connected to the second level, and a short glass brick wall, which covers the WC door.

The only enclosed space of the Lumen Coffee is the plywood made volume in which the technical room and WC are located. From inside these spaces are covered with white 20x20cm ceramic tiles but the doors are turned inside out: plywood from inside, and ceramic tiles outside.

Most of the furniture and lighting fixtures are custom made according to our design. This cafe became one of the most beloved places not only for locals but also for tourists.

The slogan of Lumen Coffee is “Coffee, Music, People”. We tried to express it in the design, and it seems like we’ve achieved our goal, as this cafe became one of the most beloved places not only for locals but also for tourists. It’s a place where all are welcome.