Sahil Siddiqui
Oteiza One Coffee Shop by Bauart studio and Arkygra Arquitectos transforms a ground-floor space in a 19th-century building near Granada Cathedral into a compact, contemporary interior that pays tribute to Jorge Oteiza through steel, light, and the choreography of voids.
Set in Granada’s historic core, the project pairs a modern industrial language with a heritage shell, creating a destination for specialty coffee that appeals to design-minded locals and visitors.
Material idea
Recycled steel sourced from across Andalusia is the protagonist, spanning furniture, integrated floor elements, wall planes, and ceiling supports to form a unified yet texturally diverse envelope.
Folding patterns and precise volumetric cuts reference Oteiza’s explorations of space and emptiness, translating sculptural logic into functional fixtures and joinery.
Marks of prior use—oxidation, residual paint, and wear—are preserved to give each piece a singular identity within a cohesive material narrative.
Light as structure
Large street-facing openings pull daylight deep into the plan, creating an open, welcoming frontage and strong urban transparency.
A veil of vertical steel slats modulates privacy and views, producing a shifting play of light and shadow throughout the day.
Low-intensity artificial lighting defers to natural light, amplifying the steel’s textures and tonal variations without flattening the material.
Plan and program
Along Calle Cucharas, the layout is bright and outward-looking, encouraging a connection with street life and casual seating.
On Calle Botero, modularly spaced metal sheets—set to a mathematical rhythm—shape a more intimate ambience while maintaining exterior continuity.
Folded tables slot into a steel floor grid and ceiling supports express a clear tectonic order, reinforcing the project’s concept.
Atmosphere and experience
The interior unfolds as a sensory sequence where light reveals patina and grain, and repetition lends warmth to a robust palette.
Variations in tone and texture from each steel element’s origin and prior life introduce depth and visual rhythm, turning reuse into storytelling.
The result is a calm, contemporary setting that honors its historic envelope while foregrounding sustainability, craft, and hospitality.
Credits
Architecture: Bauart studio; Arkygra Arquitectos.
Photography: Fernando Schapochnick.
