NMAA Moongate Cafe
During a visit to Roche Bobois, the team fell in love with the Mah Jong modular sofa and fabrics by Kenzo Takada, which quickly became the centerpiece of the design. Along with the sofa, Leeway chairs with their distinctive half-moon backrests, designed by Keiji Takeuchi, provide the bulk of the seating. Rounded tables and chairs balance the rigid angles of the existing space and reinforce the cafe’s theme.
Challenges included routing complex mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems through an existing multi-level building, which required repurposing a former coatroom to house a three-compartment sink, water heaters, and a Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) interceptor. While the MEP upgrades continued in the invisible places of the building, the design team went through countless rounds of furniture choices and millwork design for the public area of the cafe.