ArchShowcase 
Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. The Calf & Bloom café in Amsterdam, Netherlands by Concrete Architectural AssociatesSeptember 10th, 2013 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: Concrete Architectural Associates SHORT STORY The Calf & Bloom café, situated on the ground floor of the ʻKalvertorenʼ shopping centre, connects the end of the Kalverstraat with the Singel canal, by the Bloemenmarkt (flower market). The owner of Calf & Bloom approached concrete to develop a new total concept for the former Replay café. In addition to a new interior design, the name, menu and graphics were also changed.  Image Courtesy © Ewout Huibers
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 Image Courtesy © Ewout Huibers FACTS & MATERIALS
 Image Courtesy © Ewout Huibers The new name Calf & Bloom has an international character, while also referring the location of the café in Amsterdam in which Calf refers to the Kalverstraat (Dutch for calf street), and Bloom to the Bloemenmarkt or flower market.The location of Calf & Bloom, situated between two streets looking out on the Bloemenmarkt and the existing brick facade on the inside, create a sense of a hidden square. To enhance this feel, a new second outer ʻfacadeʼ was added that connects the two entrances of the café in a winding line. Raw steel frames with light panels and louvers create a dynamic wall that separates the front of house and back of house, and includes a variety of functions by serving as a menu board, newspaper display, and chalkboard.  Image Courtesy © Ewout Huibers SQUARE – STREET – FACADE To underline the outside feel, the existing round columns serve as a kind of street lanterns. Large industrial lamps by Frezoli have been attached to the columns and the new facade by means of raw steel brackets. The floor consists of anthracite bluestone tiles. The new facade of louvers and light winds between the two entrances of the café. The bar, lounge sofa and high seated tables follow the movement of this facade. The louvers consist of standard raw steel frames divided in four fields of white and raw steel blinds, black chalkboard and light panels. The chalkboards can be used to announce daily specials or other information. The winding facade also contains doors to the back of house, the kitchen and toilet area. To create a clear contrast, the doors are made of oak blinds. The walls of the kitchen and toilets are covered in metro tiles, which are white in the kitchen and black in the toilets.  Image Courtesy © Ewout Huibers INSIDE SEATING The interior is partly characterised by a variety of furniture. The ʻsquareʼ has small French tables with marble tops and wooden bistro chairs as well as a six-metre long café bench, high seated tables along the brick wall and an eye-catching round leather sofa. The oak café bench and end grain square tables in the heart of the restaurant can be used for eating or reading. The café bench combined with the revolt chairs ensure a flexible layout. The combination with denim pillows creates a warm ambiance. The high tables along the brick wall come with comfortable bar stools with saddle leather seats. The saddle leather and brick wall create a raw look, while custom-made reading lamps provide a sense of warmth and intimacy.  Image Courtesy © Ewout Huibers OUTSIDE SEATING In addition to the entrance via the shopping centre, the café also has an entrance on the Singel canal where a large terrace can be set-up in summer that offers sun throughout the day. The new awning consists of a denim fabric and the terrace chairs are a mixture of indigo and warm greys. VISUAL IDENTITY With a new interior came a new name, menu and visual identity. Calf & Bloom is a café with an international character. The name refers to the connection between the Kalverstraat shopping street and the Singel canal, between which the café is situated. To emphasise this connection it was decided to use a bold font that is held framed by two lines that symbolise the two facades. The bold black on white logo gives the Calf & Bloom identity a contemporary urban atmosphere. Part of the new facade are two big raw steel logos near both entrances that are integrated into the facade that winds through the café. The large logos refer to the advertising light boxes usually used by food chains on shopping streets and emphasise the street feeling of the café.  Image Courtesy © Concrete Architectural Associates The cover of the menu shows a drawing of typical canal houses and more modern shopping facades, as a light-hearted reference to the neighbourhood of the café and to underline the courtyard feel. The drawing combined with the bold black on white logo reflects the urban, comfortable interior. The oak boards with elastic binding give a subtle reference to the menu board, allowing the customers to browse the menu at ease while enjoying their coffee. The graphic design of Calf & Bloom breathes an urban, yet clean atmosphere. The impressive logo on the facade wows the customers but also exudes a clean, recognisable image, which makes each stay at the café as comfortable as it should be.  Image Courtesy © Concrete Architectural Associates
Tags: Amsterdam, Netherlands Category: Cafe |
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