Merci Cafè by Yuma Sato is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award de Bronze in Arquitectura Competition Category.

BronzeArquitectura· 2025

Merci Cafè

by Yuma Sato

Client: Koto Architecture Lab Inc

A' Design Award de Bronze Winner in Arquitectura Category

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Verified Award Winner

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The Design

About Merci Cafè

Merci es un cafè-planta bastit dins un environament rural entre doas ciutats. Lo cafè es enrodat de rotas e dòna sus de paisatges de campanha pintoresques. De metòdes de construccion en fusta e de calculs estructurals avançats permeton de vastes sostraches dobèrts. Un atri central dobèrt aporta unitat als espacis divèrses e emplena l'interior de lutz naturala, creant un lòc de repaus a tota ora del jorn. Lo solet es fach de marc de cafè reciclat solidificat amb ciment, e las paretas exteriòras utilizan de materials naturals. D'ingredients locals i son servits, sosteneant la circulacion regionala e la comunautat environanta.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award de Bronze

Merci Cafè a ganhat la distincion A' Design Award de Bronze, una reconeissença plan prestigiosa acordada a de designs excellents que se destrian per la creativitat, l'engenh e la finessa. Los ganhaires del Bronze son d'artefactes largament abils e sorprenentament creatius que provan la vasta experiéncia, l'imaginacion e l'engenhositat de lors designers. S'espèra que Merci Cafè siá un objècte fòrça considerat, admirat e estimat, notablament professional e innovant. Aqueste design ganhaire de la distincion A' Design Award de Bronze integra las melhoras practicas de l'art, de la sciéncia, del design e de la tecnologia e es excellent per son atencion al detalh. Merci Cafè satisfa esplendidament los besonhs, toca los desirs, encanta los sentiments e interèssa la curiositat.

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