Bee Breeders Architecture Competitions has announced winners for the Big Tiny Coffee House Challenge competition to reinvent the staple of modern urban culture: the coffee shop. 

Participants were tasked with expanding the premise of the modern coffee shop, creating a design that could be easily replicated in miniscule locations across northern Europe. They were asked to look past the traditional lounge motif that permeates today’s coffee shop culture, and create a new iconic look for the caffeine dispensary. 

The jury’s primary focus when selecting winning projects was this iconic flair, showing preference for those designs that were easily recognisable, and as such could be used to build a brand around their structure/project.

First prize was awarded to the “Coffee Podium” by Lau Wai Lap from Hong Kong. Constructured predominantly from scaffolding, the Coffee Podium flipped the concept of a coffee house on its head, creating a temporary structure that revels in its pop-up nature. With room for a single barista on the elevated platform, the jury were incredibly impressed with this combination of iconic design and original thinking, all while imparting a minimal footprint that is easily constructed in any location.

Second prize was awarded to Ali Parva and Reza Khosravi from Old Dominion University in the USA. Their designs feature an eye-catching steeped entrance and adaptable seasonal layout, creating a unique and iconic look that has the potential to be easily integrated with the company’s brand identity. 

Third prize was awarded to Marco Di Pisa, Daphne Tarantino, and Marianna Di Salvo from Studio 2HB srl in Italy. Their pragmatic "As Home" project follows design guidelines of the Scandinavian countries which are statistically the biggest coffee drinkers in the world. They created a warm and cosy environment, while at the same time organizing the space in a functional and harmonious way.

See the winning projects below with short jury comments:

1st prize: Coffee Podium by Lau Wai Lap from Hong Kong

Jury comments:

"The “Coffee Podium” flipped the concept of a coffee house on its head, creating a temporary structure that revels in its pop-up nature. The bulk of the podium is made of a scaffolding system which is integrated into the coffee house to make it lightweight, easy to construct, and easy to dismantle. A single barista can work from the 4.3m x 3.9m kiosk which is elevated above the ground amidst waterproof plywood panels and translucent polycarbonate plastic panels. Customers would navigate a modular ladder system that forms a loop circulation, creating a panoramic view path. The jury were impressed with this combination of iconic design and original thinking, all while imparting a minimal footprint that is easily constructed in any location."

Read interview with the 1st prize winner

2nd prize: Tiny Coffee House by Ali Parva and Reza Khosravi from Old Dominion University in the USA

Jury comments:

"The “Tiny Coffee House” project features an eye-catching steeped entrance, creating a unique and iconic look that has the potential to be used for the company’s brand identity. Split into two parts, the Coffee House has a dedicated workstation, and sitting area, the latter of which looks to provide a calm climate for customers to stop off and enjoy their coffee. The interior space is inviting, with its warm material and elevated ceiling form. The building has an adaptable structure which can be changed throughout the year, opening up the sitting area to provide outside seating during warm weather."

Read interview with the 2nd prize winners

3rd prize: As Home by Marco Di Pisa, Daphne Tarantino, and Marianna Di Salvo from Studio 2HB srl in Italy

Jury comments:

"The pragmatic “As Home” project follows two guidelines that are indicative of Scandinavian countries: order and simplicity. This portable coffee house’s framework is made of non-toxic recyclable aluminium coated with wood, creating a cosy area where customers can relax and enjoy a hot cup of coffee. It features solar-powered LED lighting as well as two large glass walls, placed lengthwise along the sides. The project aims to allow customers to enjoy homemade coffee in whichever location it is placed, creating a warm and cosy environment, while at the same time organizing the space in a functional and harmonious way."

Read interview with the 3rd prize winners

The competition also selected 6 Honorable Mentions and see all projects on Bee Breeders Architecture Competitions' website. See all competitions on World Architecture Community.

Top image: 1st prize: Coffee Podium by Lau Wai Lap from Hong Kong

All images courtesy of Bee Breeders Architecture Competitions

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