After working with Ancora Coffee Roasters on two Madison locations, our team was enlisted to collaborate on Ancora’s third space. Equal parts soothing and playful, modern and vintage, and angular and organic, these dichotomies work together to create a dynamic community space for the beloved Madison staple.
A key challenge for the project was ensuring that the two separate seating areas feel connected and equally inviting. Additionally, it was critical to ensure each space had a variety of seating choice. Layering materiality and creating a shared design language between the two spaces was key to connecting the separate spaces successfully.
Our team explored multiple options for the bar considering shape, queueing, menu board location, retail, bakery, and necessary equipment. The result was one continuous ribbon that increased visibility for retail and bakery while optimizing employee workflow behind the bar. A crisp, white solid-surface platform ties together the grab-and-go cooler, bakery case, and two point-of-sale areas with retail below.
With limited windows, small alcoves were added along the large expanses of wall space to create a more intimate feeling within the dining areas. Natural white oak, pops of teal, and wallcovering accents were repeated throughout the space and paired with simple, vertical wood slats and rattan cane webbing accents for added texture and warmth. The subtle curves incorporated into the casework and repeated in the corrugated metal work together with soft paint tones to create a relaxing, multi-layered space to sit and enjoy a morning cup of coffee or an afternoon treat.
Images copyright 2021 Michael R Conway, Photographer
