Merci Cafetería by Yuma Sato is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award de Bronce in Deseño de Arquitectura, Edificación e Estruturas Competition Category.

BronceArquitectura· 2025

Merci Cafetería

by Yuma Sato

Client: Koto Architecture Lab Inc

A' Design Award de Bronce Winner in Arquitectura Category

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Verified Award Winner
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The Design

About Merci Cafetería

Merci é unha cafetería vexetal construída nun contorno rural entre dúas cidades. A cafetería está rodeada de estradas e ofrece vistas panorámicas sobre unha paisaxe campestre. Os métodos construtivos en madeira e os cálculos estruturais avanzados permiten a creación de amplos teitos abertos. Un átrio central aberto achega unidade aos diversos espazos e enche o interior de luz natural, creando un lugar de descanso en calquera momento do día. O pavimento está feito con pousos de café reciclados solidificados con cemento, mentres que os muros exteriores empregan materiais naturais. Sírvense ingredientes locais, apoiando así a circulación rexional e a comunidade veciña.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award de Bronce

Merci Cafetería gañou o A' Design Award de Bronce, un recoñecemento altamente prestixioso outorgado a deseños sobresaíntes que se distinguen pola creatividade, o enxeño e a sagacidade. Os gañadores Bronce son artefactos amplamente hábiles e sorprendentemente creativos que autentican a vasta experiencia, imaxinación e enxeño dos seus deseñadores. Espérase que Merci Cafetería sexa un obxecto moi apreciado, admirado e querido, notablemente profesional e innovador. Este deseño gañador do A' Design Award de Bronce incorpora as mellores prácticas da arte, a ciencia, o deseño e a tecnoloxía, e é excelente pola súa atención ao detalle. Merci Cafetería satisfai espléndidamente as necesidades, toca os desexos, encanta os sentimentos e atrae a curiosidade.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: This is a plant cafe where you can enjoy scenic rural views. It values nature and utilizes its facility surrounded by roads to create a space filled with natural light, making it a relaxing environment at any time of the day. The open atrium brings unity to the diverse spaces. Additionally, we focus on using more natural materials to create a sophisticated atmosphere.
Tags: cafe,regional circulation, nature,universality, coexistence
Production Technology: The building was constructed using wooden construction methods. Advanced structural calculations were employed, making extensive use of open ceilings. The finishing materials included flooring made from recycled products of coffee grounds solidified with cement, and the outer walls used natural materials, resulting in a sustainable building.
Research: In this architecture, the most important thing is a space for creating a new and nostalgic future that blends in with the community. We aimed for a space that maximizes the goodness of the area while being able to design for the future.
Inspiration: The idea was to build a peaceful structure in the countryside that connects the two cities.
Amidst the aging population and depopulation, it was crucial to support the local cycle and create a landscape loved by the community.
Project Duration: We will continue to expand, starting with Okayama City in 2024. We aim to open multiple stores in the future.
Operation Flow: This building is a cafe open to the local community, and a space that aims to promote local circulation. It aims to be an indigenous land that uses local ingredients. It also has an eye on inbound tourism, as a place where people can enjoy sightseeing at traditional Japanese facilities that are a tourist resource for the region.
Team Members: sen ko home
Image Credits: photo:Iku Asanuma