Scent of a Golden Age: A Modern Coffee Shop with a Nostalgic Twist

Designers Joye Chuang and Celine Liou Transform a Sixty-Year-Old Shophouse into a Showa Era-Inspired Coffee Shop

The design team was inspired by the "good old days" and the Showa era, aiming to create a flagship store that is worthy of its brand, OH! Café. The owner of OH! Café is a World Coffee Roasting Champion from 2014, and the designers wanted to create a space that reflects the brand's prestige. The result is a warm, inviting space where the traces of bygone days and the smell of coffee come together to create a unique atmosphere.

The unique properties of this design lie in its careful blend of old and new. The steel frame and iron cladding of the old house have been transformed into a refined, modern space, while the revivalist woodwork supports the pitched roof with an oval opening reminiscent of a traditional Japanese residence. The design team has reinterpreted the old Japanese house through a new lens, creating a space that is both familiar and fresh.

One of the standout features of the design is the spiral staircase, which optimizes the space and anchors the circulation of the area near the bar counter on the first floor. The streamlined curve of the design connects several elements into one gesamtkunstwerk, including the encircling concrete cylinders, the fifty-year-old handmade paper umbrellas hanging above, the aromas area in the rear cabinet wall, and the corner of the counter.

The project started in April 2019 and was completed in June 2019. The design team faced several challenges during the renovation process, including the design of the second floor as a mezzanine. To the left is a small Japanese garden with a narrow flagstone path, while to the right is the raised seating area that looks like a floating pavilion. The scale of Japanese rush mats accommodates both gestures of sitting and lying, creating a space that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

The "Scent of a Golden Age" project was awarded the Golden A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2021. This prestigious award is granted to marvelous, outstanding, and trendsetting creations that reflect the designer's prodigy and wisdom. The design team's innovative approach to blending old and new has resulted in a space that is not only beautiful but also a testament to the enduring appeal of the Showa era.