schemata architects tucks eleventh blue bottle cafe under 100-year-old bridge in tokyo

for the 11th store of blue bottle coffee in japan (see more here, here and here) schemata architecs/ jo nagasaka has tucked the brand’s smallest space to date under an 100-year old railway bridge in tokyo. occupying a total of 25 square meters, the tiny cafe at kanda manseibashi is integrated within the existing environment of the bridge, through exposed red brick walls in its interior. 

all images by takumi ota

being blue bottle coffee‘s first takeout-only cafe without seating inside, the store at kanda manseibashi has been designed by schemata architects as a minimalist space focused on functionality. the existing plaster board finishes on the walls and ceiling have been removed, and the exposed structure of the bridge has been incorporated within the interior. the red brick and concrete space is complemented by a white counter, placed as if being wrapped inside the solid structural frame. 

project info:

name: blue bottle coffee, kanda manseibashi cafe

architect: jo nagasaka / schemata architects

team: yasunori nakano

address: 1-25-4 kanda suda-cho, chiyoda-ku, tokyo, japan

construction: tank

collaborators: bootleg（sign), hoshizaki electric co.,ltd.（kitchen), whitelight.ltd（acoustic design), modulex (lighting plan)

floor area: 24.91m2

structure: brick