Rösslibeck Bakery and Café, Switzerland
Rösslibeck Bakery and Café in Switzerland received a new interior design and lighting scheme from Zurich-based studio Susanne Fritz Architekten. Using a mix of decorative pieces, the team achieved an elegant design that evoked Viennoise grandeur.
In the new shopping hub in place of the Amriville and Migros Shopping Centre, the Rösslibeck café will cater the growing local population of 90,000 in the Eastern Switzerland town.
Following a design concept based around a contemporary coffee house, the scheme by Susanne Fritz Architekten interprets well-known style elements that connect the building’s industrial past and an urban traditional café.
Susanne Fritz sat down with darc to describe her design intentions and journey for the bakery / café. Initially, both the client and the tenant had differing design ideas for the project, which Fritz had to consider when approaching the project. “Our client wanted to have a representative and urban café, while the tenant wanted to keep costs as low as possible and had other ideas about the design.
“The finished design of the new Rösslibeck Café in Amriville followed the idea of connecting the modern with the historical cafe. The contemporary interpretation of well-known stylistic elements combines the building with an industrial past and an urban tradition café. Panelling, chandeliers, an opulent curtain and Viennese elegance from the imperial era versus vintage flooring, glass and shed roofs with industrial charm combine to create the interpretation of a modern coffee house.
“We integrated the corporate identity of the tenant in a subtle way. The red colour of his corporate identity and the motif of the golden ear of wheat, which stands for the core business ‘bread and bakery products’, can be found both on the custom-made wallpaper and as an imprint on the floor covering. We applied it in a way that it could be adapted in case the tenant changes.”
As part of the refurbishment of the original space, the suspended ceilings were removed to expose the original shed roofs, creating an historic focal point in the space. “The mall used to be an industrial factory with high ceilings, which were covered by the suspended ceiling of the retail store. The suspended ceiling was removed and opened upwards. This exposed the beautiful shed roofs of 1967 of the main location of the textile company Esco became visible again. A large opening was broken into the façade and a room-high window was installed,” explained Fritz.
As a result, the space instantly got a sense of grandeur, which in turn influenced the design aesthetic to be based on a classic Viennoise café. Large Moooi Mesh chandeliers were added to the grand space, emphasising the classical vibe the team was striving to achieve.
Further emphasising the elegant finish in the main café space is LED strip lighting from Lichtsektor around the ceiling and on top of the surrounding wooden panelling of the room, which adds height to the room, as well as discreetly added iGuzzini LEDs in the pitched roof of the elevated gallery space.
Further functional lighting, including the Laser Blade High Contrast by iGuzzini and Infra-Structure Evolution by Flos, were added to the counters to ensure an optimum presentation of products and well-lit merchandise.
In addition to the architectural lighting elements, Fritz added filigree lights to add atmosphere in the main room along with modern chandeliers and the Discoco beige chandeliers in the Annex by Marset. Customised table lights in brass by Lichtsektor, and Candle Applique by Gio Pagani on the wall panelling further enhanced these details.
Susanne Fritz Architekten completed the lighting scheme in house with the help of Lichtsektor, who manufactured some of the custom pieces and also aided in the technical calculation of illumination, in particular for the counter area.
“The café is working with a dimmed lighting atmosphere. Ceiling lights in the shed roof provide the luminance; the decorative chandeliers bring the ceiling down visually and form a second level,” she explains. “A well-balanced mix of direct and indirect lighting creates a stimulating atmosphere.
“Our lighting concept was a modern quotation of the lighting design of traditional cafés.
“Lighting was not only creating atmosphere but was also glamorous and made of exclusive materials. The materials of the chosen lighting pieces complete the colour and material concept of the interior design. With the functional light we compensated for the different situations of daylight shining through the large façade opening and the shed roof.”
Overall, the team achieved a stunning finish, which harmoniously blended the building’s historic past and architecture whilst also maintaining a contemporary edge to appeal to new customers. The balance between decorative and architectural lighting elements has created a cosy and unique bakery and café experience that also ensured the tenants products were correctly illuminated for optimum presentation needs.
