This humble space serves as Waffl’s first proper cafe. The brand was originally called Sugarrush, and they operated out of a small stall at Tekka’s Eatbox (the entire coffeeshop has since been shuttered). A loyal customer base pushed its founders to seek out a permanent home, and a space that they can truly call their own.
The idea was simple. They needed a space that was warm and inviting, so it made logical sense to adopt Scandinavian styling in the creation of the space. But there were a few not-insignificant hurdles that the RE.Design folks had to jump through to properly lay out the space.
The Beginnings
The unit itself was completed in 1982. Being 41 years old, and with multiple bodge jobs from previous tenants, there were a lot of issues to rectify even before the renovation was to begin. Also, the space, which was once used as a childcare centre, is odd-shaped, a result of it being the corner unit.
Reliability was the priority, so any critical points of failure were identified and rectified before any renovation works began proper. Wiring issues were sorted out, as were issues with the existing aircon pipe runs. The floor tiles were also popping out, and new concrete screed had to be used to ensure a level surface for the vinyl flooring to be laid on.
Critical works done, it was now time to turn a bare shell into an instagrammable cafe. The owners worked in tandem with the designers to divvy up the space, opting to fabricate a partition wall parallel to the existing glass facade to serve as the kitchen.
The main glass entrance was removed, and new items fabricated to create some additional space for the counter. It had to be done this way, as the ideal customer flow dictated the need for their ice-cream and cake fridges to be laid out as shown.
Perpendicular to this is a counter that serves as their coffee station and their cashier. An integrated sink has been built into the carpentry, which also has a separate section that serves as an electrical hub and storage.
A separate fabricator was engaged to create three curved wall shelves, which had LED illumination built into them. They currently serve as additional storage, but the owners have intention to use it as merchandise display down the line.
Big on Impact, Small on Budget
Spaces like this prove that you can create a big visual impact on a relatively small budget. I cannot disclosure the total project sum on a public platform, but this is proof that if spendings are optimised, you’d be able to go very far on not a lot of cash.
Ultimately, part of the adherence to the minimalist ethos is ensuring function comes before form, and that is something the owners achieved with this space!
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