A LOCKER-STYLE CAFE DESIGNED BY JO NAGASAKA OFFERS A SAFE WAY TO ORDER A CUP OF COFFEE DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC SITUATION
TEXT: PICHAPOHN SINGNIMITTRAKUL
PHOTO: TAKUMI OTA
(For Thai, press here)
During the past year of COVID-19 preventive efforts, we were able to witness a monumental shift in the ways people in society communicate and interact. Businesses and companies all across the world have been struggling to adapt and survive. In this wave of chaos, many saw nothing but problems and predicaments, but there were also those who viewed the crisis as an opportunity to create and innovate despite all these new conditions brought about by the “New Normal” world.
The New Normal entails the manner in which individuals maintain physical distance when communicating. It seeks to prevent the spread of viruses caused by contact with contaminated surfaces in order to safeguard the well-being and hygiene of people. James Freeman, the founder of the famous American specialty coffee brand Blue Bottle Coffee, came up with a solution for the concern over people’s health and social distancing during the coffee ordering process, which would normally involve face-to-face interactions between a staff member and a customer, from placing an order to picking it up from a barista.
James designed the Blue Bottle Coffee Pop-Up Cafe as an experimental New Normal coffee ordering system. The project took place between December 2021 and February 2022 at Shibuya Scramble Square in collaboration with the brand’s acquaintance, Japanese architect Jo Nagasaka of Schemata Architects, who were also responsible for the design of other Blue Bottle locations.
Given that the design of the cabinets is meant to resemble that of a locker, many visitors who see the pop-up space for the first time will likely be confused as to whether it is a café or a locker room. As with most storage cabinets, the design is mostly composed of wood and separated into equal grids with doors that can be opened and closed. But there is nothing complex about how the compartments work. Each compartment is used by the cafe staff behind the cabinet to place a freshly brewed cup of coffee after a customer made an order using the automatic ordering machine at the front of the café.
Additionally, the visible exterior surface as well as the doors are made of translucent acrylic in order to create a unique experience of how the employees and customers interact. The silhouette of a coffee cup appearing in one of the compartments would notify the customer that their order is ready without them having to talk to or interact with the staff, which is in line with social distance measures.
Unfortunately, the pop-up cafe was only open for a short period of time and has now been removed from the venue. For coffee buffs who wish to have a taste of Blue Bottle Coffee’s specialty coffee, try visiting the brand’s website to make an online purchase. If you’re planning an overseas trip, you can also find the branch locations on their website. It’s very likely for one to expect something fun from their American and Asian locations, like the pop-up cafe at Shibuya Scramble Square. As for Thailand, all I can say for now is that we will be here, waiting.
