% Arabica Berlin

A mere 20-minute drive from central Berlin, Arabica’s new store opened in Kreuzberg district. The characteristic of simplicity, as it was a part of East Berlin in the past, is strongly left within the buildings and townscapes in the area . In the past several years, many artists and young entrepreneurs moved to Kreuzberg, accordingly the quality of the area has improved.

Arabica Berlin is located in one of the historical buildings and it was the first store for the brand in Europe. Also it was an exciting project for us to converting a historical building into the cafe, which barely can be done in Japan.Sheltered from the road, the store is accessed from an internal courtyard, after through the tunnel covered with graffiti.

We planned this project to reflect concepts of ”sincere and sturdy”and “Taru wo Shiru” -can be translated as : “I simply know what is enough”, that I was inspired by seeing local communities and streetscape. Therefore, we designed the store
to be as natural as possible, restored original textures of everything, from rough brick walls and floor to ceiling.

Inspired by DieterRams, a German industrial designer who I have been influenced by, the store fixtures were designed to look like detached and light-weight units, as if these look like products rather than display furnitures. It allows the store to make an art gallery like atmosphere. Everything has own uniqueness with presence, from a reformed Rams’s record player to pendant lamps with CHEMEX coffeemakers.

As the store offers customer to experience not only having coffee
at a take away counter but a variety of light meals on the table and seats. It is because German customers enjoy coffee while having meals at a relaxed space. When viewed from the outside, visitors enjoy coffee on hand at outdoor terrace for
sunny days.

In order to localize a new store with a firm connection with local communities, the most important faith is to make a space which the brand enable to engage continuous activity with neighbors. I hope this store will be rooted in this land and develop together with Kreuzberg.