September 28, 2026 | DESIGN & INTERIORS

AN ALL-DAY IDENTITY

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What was the brief for Dama when you first began the design process?

Dama came to us with an “All Day Eatery” brief. The idea was to create a neighbourhood meeting place: somewhere for breakfast and coffee in the morning, working and small bites during the day, before turning into a listening bar with cocktails in the evening. By keeping the menu focused on finger food, they wanted Dama to stand out primarily for its atmosphere and cocktails.

The location was great, but the shape of the space was challenging. The rear receives very little natural light, while the front has two façades.

These conditions became important factors in shaping the design. We positioned the café and restaurant at the front as the daytime space, while the rear became the hi-fi bar for the evening.

What was the main idea behind Dama’s spatial character?

It was really a combination of things. We had a clear design language from the outset, and the existing qualities of the space reinforced it. Its corner position allowed us to create a strong connection between inside and out. This sense of openness allowed us to make bold, characterful design decisions despite the relatively low ceiling height.

The ceiling became one of the defining elements of the space. We drew inspiration from traditional Japanese architecture for the woven panels set within the minimalist timber grid structure.

BETWEEN INSIDE AND OUT

What were some of the key design decisions in terms of layout, circulation and the transition between different areas?

The brief itself — Dama’s dual identity as a café-restaurant and a listening bar — directly shaped the layout, circulation and different areas of the space. In the café-restaurant, for example, we wanted the interior and exterior to feel connected, so we used a concrete-effect micro-topping on the floor.

As you move into the listening bar, the flooring changes to glossy burgundy ceramic. It’s a subtle shift that reinforces the feeling of moving from outside to inside.

What was your approach to the material and colour palette?

We were quite bold with both material and colour. Colour and minimalism are already central to our design language as a studio. At Dama, the palette is built around burgundy, grey-blue and accents of green. Burgundy ceramic appears across the floors and walls, while grey-blue is used on other wall surfaces. Together, they create a backdrop that feels bold without becoming overwhelming, while small accents of green in the furniture distinguish particular elements within the space.

Furniture plays an important role in Dama’s character. Were any pieces designed specifically for the space?

The lounge seating, tables and stools were all custom-designed by us for Dama. Alongside these, we introduced vintage pieces, including the loose chairs, a two-seater mid-century leather sofa and Murano wall lights.

From the beginning, we wanted Dama to feel sensual, inviting, intimate and modern. We chose vintage pieces because they are objects that already have a place in our collective memory and can create an emotional connection with a space. 

AFTER DARK

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How did the hi-fi bar become part of the design?

It was clear from the beginning that Dama would turn into a listening bar in the evenings. We therefore conceived the hi-fi area as an extension of the long bar, so that it would feel like a natural continuation of the overall design language. At the same time, we wanted the transition into evening to become visible. Without disrupting the overall design, we introduced small neon-green accents and Barrisol light boxes integrated into the grid system. These elements help mark the space’s transformation from day to night.

Once Dama was completed, what surprised you most about the way people began using the space?

We were surprised and happy to see Dama equally busy during the day and at night, and to see people using the low pavement along the corner façade as an informal seating area. Even when you design a place around an all-day concept, one identity often becomes more dominant; people tend to think of somewhere as either a daytime or a nighttime place. Seeing Dama work equally well as both has been particularly rewarding.

We also thought the pavement at the corner might be too low for people to sit on comfortably. Instead, people not only sit there, but even gather on the ground opposite it. Seeing people use the space in this unexpected way has been a very welcome surprise.