Bone Studio’s La Petite Café Reflects the Desert Landscape as a Monolithic Sculpture
Project:
La Petite Café
Architects:
Bone Studio
Location:
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Photography:
Oculis Project
Words:
Caroline Meeusen
Bone Studio is a nomadic design studio that merges form and function in their projects. Leaving conventional design stereotypes behind, their approach is free yet methodical. We “design novel spaces that can functionally and aesthetically serve different purposes—reinterpreting the way common spaces are defined,” Bone Architecture notes.
One of their significant projects, where the spatial tangibility and surroundings are the main focus, is the beautiful La Petite Café in Abu Dhabi. The little café serves as an intimate haven to escape the bustling city. Bone Studio reinterpreted the classic coffee bar as a “monolithic sculpture in a Cubist approach.”
Shrouded in earthy colors, the space’s design and palette were inspired by the surrounding desert. The materials and sandy tones ground the café in its location’s origins. Inspired by this landscape, the seating and furniture were diversely arranged based on traditional Emirati floor majlis and casual cafes. The material palette consists of mineral plasters in both raw and smooth finishes, soft linens, clay, and untreated aluminum and steel.
Connecting the space visually to the garden, the glass doors open a dialogue between the inside and the surrounding landscape. Drawing customers in with the unique design, a visit to La Petite Café is a wondrous experience.