Merci Café by Yuma Sato is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award an Bronze in Architektur, Gebai an Strukturdesign Competition Category.

BronzeArchitektur· 2025

Merci Café

by Yuma Sato

Client: Koto Architecture Lab Inc

A' Design Award an Bronze Winner in Architektur Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #172637

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Merci Café

Merci ass e Planzecafé, deen an enger ländlecher Ëmgéigend tëscht zwou Stied gebaut gouf. De Café ass vu Stroossen ëmginn an bitt e Bléck op eng landschaftlech schéin Ëmgéigend. Holzbautechnike a fortgeschratt statesch Berechnunge erlaben ausgedehnten, oppe Deckenkonstruktiounen. En zentrale, ope Atrium bréngt Eenheet an déi verschidde Raim an erfëllt den Interieur mat natierlechem Liicht, wat zu all Moment vum Dag en roueg Plaz schaaft. De Buedem besteet aus recycléiertem Kaffisaz, deen mat Zement gefestegt gouf, an d'Aussewänn benotze natierlech Materialien. Et ginn lokal Zutaten ugebueden, wat de regionale Krees ënnerstëtzt an d'ëmleiend Gemeinschaft fërdert.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award an Bronze

Merci Café ass e Gewënner vum A' Design Award an Bronze, enger héich prestigiéiser Unerkennung, déi un erausragend Designe vergi gëtt, déi sech duerch Kreativitéit, Erfindungsgab a Schlauheet ausgezeechnen. Bronze-Gewënner si voll Fäegkeet a opfälleg kreativ Wierker, déi déi grouss Erfahrung, d'Fantasie an d'Ressourceréichtum vun hire Designer bestätegen. Et gëtt erwaart, datt Merci Café e héich geschätzt, bewonnert a beléifte Géigestand ass, bemierkenswäert professionell an innovativ. Dëst mam Bronze ausgezeechent Design integréiert déi beschte Praktike vun der Konscht, der Wëssenschaft, vum Design an der Technologie an zeechent sech duerch Opmierksamkeet fir Detailer aus. Merci Café erfëllt Bedierfnesser exzellent, beréiert Wënsch, bezauberet Gefiller an erweckt Neigierecht.

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