IDA 2024 NOW OPEN -- Early Bird Deadline May 30, 2024
Share on Social Media
Cafe Fargo,  | International Design Awards Winners
Cafe Fargo,  | International Design Awards Winners
Cafe Fargo,  | International Design Awards Winners
Cafe Fargo,  | International Design Awards Winners
Cafe Fargo,  | International Design Awards Winners
Cafe Fargo,  | International Design Awards Winners
Cafe Fargo,  | International Design Awards Winners
Cafe Fargo,  | International Design Awards Winners
Cafe Fargo,  | International Design Awards Winners
Cafe Fargo,  | International Design Awards Winners
Cafe Fargo,  | International Design Awards Winners

Cafe Fargo

Lead DesignersGeorg Rafailidis
Prize(s)Honorable Mention
Entry Description

Café Fargo converts a formerly neglected corner store into a small coffee shop in residential Buffalo, New York, USA. The original corner store, built in 1929, is a monolithic brick addition to the corner of a 3-story house built around 1880.Working with a tight budget, and to avoid the large amount of construction cost associated with climate control systems, we decided to make these systems an integral part of the space. During warm months, extra-large operable windows and skylights open the space to provide natural ventilation and passive cooling. For winter months, a large-scale wood burning Kachelofen (masonry heater) provides a radiant heat source. Using these low-tech and experientially rich elements, they are able to eliminate the need, and cost, of any ductwork while leaving the restored tin ceiling unobstructed. The café is structured in three bands. The innermost band consists of the Kachelofen, which is constructed as a long, horizontal bench and a vertical tower. The tower, which forms a spatial pocket, contains the bathroom. Opposite, the outermost band includes the large sliding windows, with thick oak sills extended into benches. By blurring the barrier between interior and exterior the area feels like a covered patio. The third band contains the space between, providing an open seating area for ever-changing seating patterns. The custom designed lights are held-up on the restored tin ceiling with magnets, and allow for the lighting patterns to adapt as seating arrangements migrate by season. To aid in the transition of seating, the ‘team’ designed a height-adjustable table. Apart from the two added elements (heater and window), the renovation consisted mainly of stripping away the various floor, wall and ceiling surfaces until we reached a surface with material integrity. As elements were stripped away, the relationship to the older house became more legible.