nagasawa coffee is a coffee roastery located in morioka, a city in the tohoku region in northeastern japan, designed by arii irie architects. the owners decided to move their shop to a larger space to fit in their new 1960s vintage roaster — their vision of the new project was an open workshop space. as the main element of the café, arii irie architects designed a 6-meter long and 1.5-meter wide terrazzo table.

japanese café by arii irie architects is organized around a huge terrazzo table
the table is made of terrazzo
all images © kai nakamura

 

 

the centerpiece is intended as both a table to sit at and an active tabletop where unroasted, roasted, and packaged beans are placed together, showcasing the live sequence of the roasting process. the height of the table is kept low, in order to lower the eyelevel in relation to the 2.8-meter high ceiling.

japanese café by arii irie architects is organized around a huge terrazzo table
the table serves as a display as well

 

 

the table looks somewhat like a podium or a runway because of its length, but also like a wall because of the distance it creates between each side. small shops like nagasawa coffee play a significant role in the urban cultural scene in a provincial city like morioka. as much as an interior element, the large table is designed as a piece of urban furniture.

japanese café by arii irie architects is organized around a huge terrazzo table
the 1960s vintage roaster sits next to the entrance

 

japanese café by arii irie architects is organized around a huge terrazzo table
the round tables by the large window maintain the minimalistic spirit

 

japanese café by arii irie architects is organized around a huge terrazzo table
the table is 6 meters long

 

japanese café by arii irie architects is organized around a huge terrazzo table
the counter made of mineral bonded wood wool boards gives a sense of raw materiality

 

japanese café by arii irie architects is organized around a huge terrazzo table
the horizontalness of the table and counter creates a continuity of space from the street

 

japanese café by arii irie architects is organized around a huge terrazzo table
the table, the bench and the counter

 

japanese café by arii irie architects is organized around a huge terrazzo table
the table seen from the street

 

japanese café by arii irie architects is organized around a huge terrazzo table
the view from the street

 

project info:

 

name: nagasawa coffee

architects: arii irie architects

location: morioka, japan

photography: kai nakamura

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: maria erman | designboom