Project type
Furniture Design and Fabrication

Location
Durbarmarg, Kathmandu, Nepal

Project team
Niraj Joshi (Project in charge)
Gaurav Maskey  (Project Architect)

Interior Design
Kreato Architects, Social Lubricant Coffee

Project status
Completed

Photography
Nicolas Marie (Metalwood Nepal, Nilo Studio)

After the 20 years long and growing journey of Himalayan Java Coffee, the franchise had a plan of bringing up a new flagship outlet in Durbarmarg. Spread in an enormous area of 4500 Sqft. The coffee shop was designed to be featuring Third Wave of Coffee. The space consists of the café space along with the coffee merchandising area, roaster, biggest barista counter in Nepal and a hand brewed coffee bar. 

The design style of the space was derived from the site surrounding itself. The coffee shop settles just in front of the Narayanhiti Durbar. Open visually to both the connecting street, the proposition was to bring the visuals inside the coffee shop on 4th floor of the mall. Minimalist approach was chosen as to prevent the overshadowing of the historic monument. Most of the furniture that we have designed  are below the eye level  bringing the urge on the visitors to step in to the space specially to view and awe the monument. Merchandising shelves were planned and placed in such locations that the interiors wouldn’t block the views of the street and surrounding. 

In terms of the color pallet, the design team had selected a color scheme where the monotony of matte plain colors were to be broken by wooden elements. Along with the fabrics in bright matte color full mango wood tables were placed. The organic texture is supposed to breathe in life to the matte composition of the other elements of the interiors. Special details were noticed and executed. Glass shelves were chosen to display coffee merchandises which has created a floating display effect. Unique assembly systems have been included in the design details which have allowed us to fabricate the entire furniture setup at our workshop. This key factor has allowed us to ensure quality control on the products along with easy repair and maintenance in the future. 

As Himalyan Java Coffee is a Nepali brand which promotes products made in Nepal. It was an amazing opportunity for us to able to design, deliver these custom made products. We have fabricated a unique booth seating setup ( with our metal frame, stained pinewood and Mangowood), paper light with metal frame, wooden tables with brass struts, coffee dripper stands and merchandising shelves.  The approach and execution of the project has created a bench mark for coffee shops in Nepal.

Written by Gaurav MASKEY