A cup of fine Cortado perched on a sleek bar, awash with a special light. Warm hot chocolate at sunset, from the terrace ledge. Rich aromas made deeper by the texture of brick walls. These are visuals from the many moods of the new Modernist cafee , designed by The Crossboundaries studio. Imagined at a crossroads between a place to relish artisanal coffee, and one to savour good design Modernist Coffee, as the name suggests, is a raw, modern approach to coffee culture. An ample 1350 sq.ft space, punctuated with 900 sq.ft of lush terrace gardens in a high-rise building, the cafe is tucked away from the city, open for discovery. As typologies of cafe s becoming more than just an eatery, and transforming into art galleries, co-working and gathering spaces develop around the world the design of Modernist Coffee cleverly unites various concepts. Using the brands idea of Spaces, People and Coffee to intermingle and flow into each other, the cafe floor is conceived as a large open plan, with room for flexibility of layout. The rawness of exposed brick, specially designed lighting pieces, and framed views of the sky are the first impressions of this space- with aromas of coffee wafting in the background. As a signature statement of The Cross boundaries , a sculptural installation awaits at the entrance of the cafe . Sculpted with raw jute, and carved wooden beads in the form of spilling coffee beans, this custom-made art piece immediately gives a sense of arrival at a temple of coffee! Within the cafe space, the seating areas, bar and open kitchen area and terrace areas are arranged for effortless flow of not only beverages, but also people, during times of large gatherings. The spacious bar counter, with an open kitchen or preparation area behind it, is clearly visible upon entering.An array of elegant high-bar stools make for easy seating at the bar counter, behind which lies a service island for quick food preparation. The idea of a transparent kitchen and service space stems from the concept of the cafe brand, which believes in an osmotic customer-barista relationship. A unique feature of this cafe is the furniture selection, which forms a physical catalogue of the eclectic furniture brand, Olvii. Stools, cafe tables, high chairs and loose furniture all are part of the furniture brands display. Sleek and stackable chairs, deep couches and tables with a burnt black wood-finished top- all become part of the ensemble to both use and purchase! The role of furniture in this cafe goes beyond fulfilling needs of seating and storage. As required, furniture and interior objects become creators of space, which when removed or rearranged, create different types of spaces within the cafe . Sometimes a regular cafe evening can be transformed into an intimate art gathering by removing and rearranging furniture pieces. An art exhibition can flow into a night of music and performances, spilling over onto the terraces and lounges, as several cups of coffee are brewed! Low- maintenance and sleek metal plates arranged horizontally along the wall act as shelves, to display books, board games and assorted objects. Sprinkled with greens, the bookshelf spanning the length of the wall becomes the perfect backdrop as a quiet space for a booklover! The designers have attempted to make these transitions as seamless as possible, with the use of a lightweight and delicate system of partitions. The vertical partitions were designed to impart maximum transparency, through the 8mm clear glass panels, housed in a thin MS flat section. Running on a thin channel, the glass screens are almost non-existent, while allowing for privacy and acoustic cut-off, when needed. As homage to the industrial quality of the cafe s ethos, the main entrance door, again uses similar language as the internal partitions. Nonetheless, as a dash of dramatic playfulness, the main door swings open with the help of a suspension system, counterbalanced on a pulley! Enveloped by the rugged texture of brick-cladded walls, the cafe seating space is cast in a warm, subtle glow, when all the partitions are open. The ingenuity of the designers lies in using cut-bricks along the stretcher course on vertical surfaces, with deep grooves or distinct pointing This arrangement of brickwork creates layers of shadows, overlapping with the sheen of the flooring. The flooring is a seamless expanse of graphite pigmented-microcrete, a material which softens the gaze and brings shallow reflections of light across the surface. Apart from designing lights to highlight artwork, some light fixtures themselves have been designed as a work of art! In the central bay, linear lights spanning between beams are uniquely fashioned out of brown medicine bottles and metal sheeting. This gives a brown-yellow gentle glow to space. As part of their in-house innovation and experimentation process, this lighting product, named Cyclotron by the designers, is a one-of-its-kind, as it uses special industrial materials, and is made to order. Some more feature lights, to accentuate the mood have been custom-designed in jute and fiber. As a contrast to the other spill-out terrace, which is occupied with angular parapets and planters, this terrace is one for a quiet cup of coffee, perched on the high tables. The terrace at the other end of the cafe , however, is an open-air outdoor performance and gathering area, as nuanced by the angularity of its parapets. These brick-clad parapets act as informal steps to an impromptu amphitheater, or just a cozy nook for a cup of coffee! With abundant greens sprinkled around this place, this cafe not only is a tribute to fresh, natural experiences but also to the finesse of raw, contrasting materials and textures!