Café, Vilnius
Cosiness in a room
VILNIUS (LT) - Vilniaus Street, which connects the city centre to the old town of Vilnius, is one of the liveliest areas of the Lithuanian capital's culture and nightlife. Probably the most dynamic as well, with regard to the fluctuation of businesses there. The reality of small cultural, entertainment and commercial enterprises, struggling to find their niche in the capricious service market, is on stark display. While some are disappearing quietly, others are opening their doors to try their luck. Once packed with shops and administrative offices, today Vilniaus Street is expanding its agenda and turning into an area of restaurants, pubs and nightclubs.
A new café called 'The Room' found room for itself in a cultural quarter of the street. The building faces the church of St. Catherine (a celebrated venue for concerts) and shares an inner courtyard – also a popular location for various performances – with an art gallery and cultural centre.
The installation of the café, designed by architects Giedrė Datenytė and Monika Zemlickaitė and located on the ground floor of the building, has almost had no visual impact on the historical facade, except for a humble logo at the entrance. Yet, being discreet does not mean it's uninviting. Big, low windows merge (literally, during the warm season) the café's interior with the street; while inside, one can share a cup of coffee and a conversation with a friend standing on the narrow sidewalk.
The homey vibe is not only due to the small size and apartment-like distribution of the three interconnected rooms of the café. The architects have filled the rooms with furniture similar to what patrons might have in their own homes: renewed second-hand chairs, armchairs and table lamps. The innovative and playful interpretation of cosiness gives a fresh and elegant result.
The 'herringbone' pattern of the hardwood floor is echoed on the surfaces of the tables and windowsills, giving the whole interior consistency and bringing additional colour to its otherwise black and white palette. The main accent of the design is the open shelf at the back of the bar, ingeniously used as a support for a multitude of flowerpots and bottles.
The large mirrors, hung on the walls and ceiling, bring the required roominess and light into the small premises, creating curious visual effects of boundless space and providing unexpected perspectives of the interior.
The large mirrors, hung on the walls and ceiling, bring the required roominess and light into the small premises, creating curious visual effects of boundless space and providing unexpected perspectives of the interior.
The Room, 2011
Architect: Giedrė Datenytė, Monika Zemlickaitė
Location: Vilniaus St. 39, Vilnius
Eating & Drinking, Leisure |
Rūta Leitanaitė
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