Dezeen · Architectuur

Studio Cadena fills Medellín cafe with 31 towering wooden columns

Architecture firm Studio Cadena has designed the interior of the Masa cafe in Medellín, Colombia, featuring over 30 tall plywood columns that create a forest-like atmosphere without walls.

The design utilizes concrete and wood, with the main six-meter-tall area defined by concrete slabs supported by slender columns. These columns are not load-bearing but are intended to structure movement, filter light, and create a layered space.

Studio Cadena founder Benjamin Cadena explained that the repetitive design of the 31 wooden columns shapes the atmosphere, with the repeated move performing all the architectural work. Untreated pine-faced plywood was chosen for its ability to subtly reflect light, giving the space a diffused warmth.

The exposed concrete structure forms the building's "raw shell," with minimal additional materials like a marble counter and stainless steel used. This approach is a resourceful choice to reduce the design to essential elements.

The cafe connects to an outdoor green space, with the wooden columns extending towards the exterior. A circular window offers a view into the production area. The design emphasizes the contrast between the existing structure and new elements, with materials left untreated to highlight texture over hue.

AI-samenvatting op basis van de bron.