Gold Interior Space and Exhibition Design · 2021
Industrial Dynamic Autocare Cafe
- A' Design Award 2021 Gold Winner in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
- Awarded April 15, 2021
- CLIENT: Lee Motors (A/S) Sdn. Bhd.
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 30,718
- Verification code 1E2E9A1BCC · Verify this award
About Industrial Dynamic Autocare Cafe
Industrial Dynamic is an interior design for a cafe placed inside an autocare centre. The project occupies a 1500 square foot double volume industrial building that also holds a car showroom and office space. The cafe covers 1100 square feet at the corner of the shop front. Black coated mild steel arches with PVC leather seating recall the tall arched windows of old warehouses. Bricks, concrete and metal trusses create a vintage industrial look, while the colours, materials and furniture follow a minimalist style. An open layout links the two businesses without dividing walls.
Chaos Design Studio's Industrial Dynamic Autocare Cafe presents a compelling synthesis of automotive service culture and contemporary hospitality design, positioning itself within the broader movement of adaptive program integration that has transformed functional commercial typologies into experiential destinations. The design demonstrates sophisticated command of industrial materiality, deploying exposed black steel trusses and triangulated structural members as both functional armature and aesthetic vocabulary, evoking the architectural language of railway terminals and manufacturing facilities reimagined for convivial gathering. The chromatic strategy establishes a restrained palette dominated by charcoal, graphite, and raw concrete neutrals, punctuated strategically by warm material insertions including honey-toned timber bar surfaces and the amber glow of carefully positioned pendant fixtures. This thermal contrast between cool industrial infrastructure and warm domestic elements suggests a deliberate meditation on the boundary between work and leisure, utility and comfort. The spatial organization achieves notable success through its management of a double-height volume, using suspended horizontal planes and lighting installations to create intimate scale within generous vertical proportion. The prominent arched windows function as both practical daylighting strategy and symbolic threshold elements, their form perhaps referencing industrial vernacular while admitting verdant exterior views that soften the interior's assertive materiality. Technical accomplishment manifests particularly in the seamless integration of service infrastructure with architectural expression, where equipment, fixtures, and spatial boundaries merge into unified compositional gesture. Viewers might contemplate how such environments reframe routine activities as aesthetic experiences, inviting consideration of design's capacity to dignify the quotidian.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Imitating the big arch windows of old industrial warehouse, black coated mild steel arches with PVC leather seatings are designed to be placed at the cafe shop front. Given the large commercial space serves dual purposes, different design features help to capture distinctive functions without blocking off the spatial relationship of the two connecting businesses. In respect to the double volume high ceiling, tall design features are designed to pull attention horizontally and also vertically.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The 1500sqft semi detached industrial building with a car showroom at the front and office space behind, also consists of an area of 1100sqft for the cafe at the corner of the shopfront. The building is of double volume with exposed ceiling metal structure and has facade of tall glass windows. It also has a mezzanine at back of the building, overlooking the showroom and cafe. There is a big sliding glass door for the cars to enter, while there are two smaller entrances for customers to enter.
- Tags
- Cafe, Coffee Shop, Frank Laurent, Lee Motors, Car Detailing, Car Body Shop, Industrial design, Minimalist design, Automotive Shop Waiting Area, Food and Beverages
- Production Technology
- Based on the site analysis the design team had conducted in the initial stage, layout plans were first drafted through space planning to understand the spatial relationship, a precise layout plan was then drawn using CAD program. Through research and brainstorming, the team exchanged ideas on concept, design, color schemes and materials to fit the design styles both aesthetically and functionality. Sketches of ideas were then produced and later realistically visualized by using 3D programs.
- Design Challenge
- With a building that shares dual functions, one of the challenges would be to understand the two business models and plan a cohesive layout that can benefit them both. The car shop owner preferred vintage and industrial looks which provided the team with a challenge of keeping the design current to fit the cafe's minimalist style. The double volume ceiling was a challenge design and structural wise, research was put into supporting the large ceiling design feature by adding more truss to it.
- Project Duration
- The project began in October 2019 and was completed in July 2020. The autocare center is located at Lot PT 60458, Kawasaki Perusahaan Sungai Lalang, 08000 Sungai Petani, Malaysia.
- Operation Flow
- An open layout was designed to invite consumers on both side of the businesses to intermingle. The cafe runs as an individual business while in a way serves as a waiting area for the customers at the Car Detailing Shop. For those who go just for the coffee, they can also visit the car showroom, driving business to the autocare shop as well. So rather than having the cafe secluded with partitions or walls, the cafe is designed with design features that help draw individual attention to the space.
- Research
- A case study on the design style and history of industrialism was researched to gain inspirations for the design elements and materials. As one of the businesses involves cars, the design team studied on car turning radius and experimented a few layout versions on CAD program. Data on pedestrian safety was also collected to apply in the layout, such as strategically placing the receptionist counter in between the car shop and cafe, subconsciously diving the customer crowd and the car routes.
- Inspiration
- Marveled by the sophistication and masculinity that are embodied in a sleek classic vintage car, we are able to capture the design essence by incorporating elements in an era that celebrated industrial innovation, where old spacious warehouses with exposed bricks, concrete and heavy usage of metals were introduced. With a modern twist and a minimalist touch, it creates a comfortable yet hip space to attract car enthusiasts of all ages to enjoy their coffee and car, making it a great dynamic.
- Image Credits
- All images: TWJPTO