Melk Café / La Firme + Alexandre Baldwin

Melk Café / La Firme + Alexandre Baldwin  - Interior Photography, Table, Windows, ChairMelk Café / La Firme + Alexandre Baldwin  - Interior Photography, Kitchen, Table, BeamMelk Café / La Firme + Alexandre Baldwin  - Exterior Photography, GlassMelk Café / La Firme + Alexandre Baldwin  - Interior Photography, Kitchen, Table, ChairMelk Café / La Firme + Alexandre Baldwin  - More Images+ 18

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Melk Café / La Firme + Alexandre Baldwin  - Exterior Photography, Glass
© Ulysse Lemerise

Text description provided by the architects. The new Melk Coffee Bar was not only a design-thinking tightrope walk between necessity and esthetics but a reminder of how much thought can go into aspects of design that people might overlook. The difficult space had to fit an existing brand and be elevated for future rollouts.

Melk Café / La Firme + Alexandre Baldwin  - Interior Photography, Table, Windows, Chair
© Ulysse Lemerise
Melk Café / La Firme + Alexandre Baldwin  - Interior Photography, Kitchen, Table, Chair
© Ulysse Lemerise

A triangular floor plan with a curved wall and space tapering to 2’ wide made for strict tolerances. We took a production line-style approach, putting sleek machines on display, with a consumer path encouraging browsing and employee-client interaction.

Melk Café / La Firme + Alexandre Baldwin  - Interior Photography, Kitchen, Table, Beam
© Ulysse Lemerise
Melk Café / La Firme + Alexandre Baldwin  - Image 23 of 23
Floor plan
Melk Café / La Firme + Alexandre Baldwin  - Interior Photography, Kitchen, Table, Windows
© Ulysse Lemerise

Tables near the counter are raised to bar height on platforms and benches push ergonomic limits to meet a 24-person occupancy. The original space was cramped. Our esthetic approach emphasized the timelessness of raw materials within a limited palette.

Melk Café / La Firme + Alexandre Baldwin  - Interior Photography, Table, Windows
© Ulysse Lemerise

We turned the narrowing end into the back store and uncovered everything--architectural details, raw concrete, plumbing, and 14’ ceilings. Light paint, atypical use of ceramics, and wood provide organic accents.

Melk Café / La Firme + Alexandre Baldwin  - Interior Photography, Shelving, Glass
© Ulysse Lemerise

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Project location

Address:Montreal, QC, Canada

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Melk Café / La Firme + Alexandre Baldwin " 08 May 2020. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/939147/melk-cafe-la-firme> ISSN 0719-8884

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