A quirky New York coffee bar

On New York’s busy Madison Avenue you’ll find a tiny espresso bar designed by a team of Manhattan-based designers and architects to resemble a library turned on its side.

Inspired by neighbouring Grand Central Station and Bryant Park Library, D’espresso designers, nemaworkshop, set out to create a unique brand and an environment that forged a connection between the space and its location. The 420 square foot interior has been rotated 90 degrees so that the book shelves become the floor and ceilings and the floors become the walls. One wall features dark-brown herringbone-pattern wooden flooring and the opposite wall features pendent lights affixed horizontally. 

The book shelf flooring is an illusion - the space lined with sepia-toned full size photograph of books printed on custom tiles. These run along the floor, up the 15’ foot wall and across the ceiling. The frosted glass wall behind the service counter illuminates the space.

The designers believe the concept is receptive to future locations - and rumour has it the next one will be completely upside down.