Dezeen Magazine

Cafe Nuances by Uchronia

Colour-drenched coffee shop by Uchronia references "sunsets in the Tunisian desert"

Gradated lava stone flooring and suspended planet-like orbs feature at the Cafe Nuances coffee shop in Paris, which was created by Dezeen Awards-nominated studio Uchronia.

Located on the city's Rue de la Tremoille, the coffee shop is the third Uchronia-designed branch for Parisian coffee roaster Cafe Nuances.

Cafe Nuances coffee shop by Uchronia in Paris
Cafe Nuances' latest branch has a bright white facade

The one-room shop is fronted by a bright white facade in stark contrast to its vivid-hued interior.

Studio founder Julien Sebban was informed by the landscapes he experienced on a recent trip to Tunisia when creating the cafe's walls and lava stone flooring, which are decorated in ombre swathes of red, orange and blue.

Gradated orange and blue walls and flooring by Uchronia
The colorful interior was informed by sunsets in Tunisia

"They reminded him of the sunsets in the Tunisian desert – a veritable ode to the gentleness of summer days," said the studio, known for its playfully eclectic designs and shortlisted in the emerging interior designer category at this year's upcoming Dezeen Awards.

The coffee shop's entrance is flanked by two bright red benches topped with metallic-effect fabric – one curved, and the other straight.

Stainless steel counter with orange lacquered shelving behind it
Uchronia crafted the counter from stainless steel

Low-slung interlocking tables, which can double as stools, can be reconfigured to suit customers' needs.

Uchronia placed a chunky stainless steel counter at the back of the intimate cafe, which is overlooked by deep orange lacquered shelving – a design element found in the other two Cafe Nuances outlets.

"This new address picks up on the codes present in the second shop, accentuating the [coffee] brand's colourful, futuristic retro universe," explained the studio.

A cluster of striking, spherical objects were finished in the same colours as the rest of the space and suspended from the reflective ceiling.

Planet-style orbs on the roof
Planet-like orbs add decoration to the space

"Unlike [this branch's] two big sisters, whose interiors feature striated shapes, here, the poly mirror tiles are complemented by half-spheres in saturated colours, accentuating the dreamlike feel of the coffee shop," continued Uchronia.

"They create the illusion of floating balls, which could be mistaken for Saturn."

Colourful interlocking tables designed by Uchronia
Bespoke interlocking tables also function as stools

The studio previously livened up a Haussman-era Paris apartment for a pair of jewellery designers with furniture crafted to nod to the appearance of precious stones.

Elsewhere, Canadian design duo Julia Jamrozik and Coryn Kempster created a sky-blue coffee shop in a century-old house in Buffalo, New York, with an optical illusion staircase.

The photography is by Félix Dol Maillot.

More images

Cafe Nuances by Uchronia
Cafe Nuances by Uchronia
Cafe Nuances by Uchronia
Cafe Nuances by Uchronia