Tipico Café in New York. Refurbished tables form a blue counter that maximises social interaction
Tipico Café in New York. Refurbished tables form a blue counter that maximises social interaction

Tipico Café in New York. Refurbished tables form a blue counter that maximises social interaction

The Tipico Café is located on the ground floor of a 100-year-old house in New York, which over the years had been stripped of its charm and layered by various alterations. The result is a design with a vibrant identity that is guided by a conceptual approach focused on maximising social interaction

To reduce the many columns and walls that interrupted the space, the interior layout was organised with the strategic insertion of new partitions to regularise the existing status. The main component of the bar is the counter, which consists of ten refurbished wooden tables that have been joined together and painted in a unifying sky blue colour

Tipico Café in New York. Refurbished tables form a blue counter that maximises social interaction

On the customer's side, the undulating profile of the counter creates additional opportunities for customers to interact with each other by providing places to sit alone and for groups of various sizes, without clearly delineating where one area begins and another ends. The swivel bar stools help to promote this open approach

Tipico Café in New York. Refurbished tables form a blue counter that maximises social interaction

Thus, by checking the occupants' comfort levels and promoting moments of interaction between strangers, the bar acts as a social infrastructure. The sky blue of the counter is further incorporated into the space at the built-in benches and like a band of colour through the existing fire, unifying these elements with the rest of the interior

Tipico Café in New York. Refurbished tables form a blue counter that maximises social interaction

The three bespoke linear lights above the bar and benches were made up of bulbs with fluorescent yellow wire wrapped around an aluminium tube, creating an entertaining contrast of colour. The design is complemented by the use of lush potted plants, which add the connotations of more tropical climates and also improve the air quality and acoustics of the space

Tipico Café in New York. Refurbished tables form a blue counter that maximises social interaction

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