Brother Hubbard:
We were approached by Garrett and James to design and build their first cafe in a space on Capel Street, Dublin. They had spent a year doing extensive research into what they wanted to achieve with their cafe and had a strong idea of the atmosphere they wanted to create. Their ethos is to provide quality coffee and food, using produce from local producers and suppliers.
We worked very closely with the clients to generate a concept that reflected their ethos. Furniture, lighting, colour and graphic identity were all considered and we undertook each facet in great detail. We worked out the layout of the space to maximise both sit-in and take-away custom. A long main counter provides sufficient space to display the range of cooked produce on offer with a sunken Belfast sink providing a chilled drinks display. Task lighting over the counter is provided by custom fluorescent fittings.
All of the tables are made from ash, held together with custom-designed powder-coated steel brackets. By exposing the brackets we were able to bring colour into the whitened wood and keep this colour running throughout the space. The stools, also made from ash, are a modern take on the traditional milking stool with the angles and height adjusted to suit someone who...isn't milking. Shelving behind the counter is made up of several height-adjustable modules with more custom-designed brackets.
In order to give the guys more control over how their identity is implemented, we created a stamp system using their logo and logotype. This allows them to apply graphics to take-away cups, bags and containers. The logo is based on the guys' dog and can be found in a couple of different poses. This makes for a more dynamic logo as the dog becomes the identity rather than a static image. The stamp-set also incorporates a menu set which allows them to create daily menus based on their available offerings.
Photos by Al Higgins