formant studio layers brutalist and industrial textures at marne cafe in mexico city

"Tucked into the Roma neighborhood of Mexico City, FORMANT Studio's Marne Café brings together architecture, gastronomy, and tactile design. The café and bakery take a timeless approach to contemporary space-making - grounded in high-quality, locally sourced products and a strong material sensibility. Inside, a raw yet composed brutalist palette defines the atmosphere. Exposed concrete and metal structures, dark wood, and pared-back industrial lighting form the backbone of the interior, while accents of color in the upholstery and wall-mounted artworks offset the otherwise neutral environment."

"Photographs framed in metal add to the layered visual language, and suspended ceiling speakers infuse the space with a carefully curated soundscape, reinforcing the immersive atmosphere. all images courtesy of FORMANT Studio formant studio .... Spanning 130 square meters, Marne Café is loosely divided into two zones, with the first a restaurant and counter space that opens onto the street, and tucked further inside, a wine bar tucked."

"Despite their different uses, both areas are stitched together by a consistent material and spatial language. All furnishings - tables, stools, chairs, lighting, and even the service counter - were custom-designed by Mexico City-based FORMANT Studio to reflect the project's functional needs and aesthetic restraint. The layout follows a subtle logic that allows guests to flow easily through the space, sit briefly, or stay longer depending on the rhythm of their visit."

Marne Café sits in the Roma neighborhood of Mexico City and spans 130 square meters. The program combines a restaurant and counter that opens to the street with a tucked wine bar further inside. A raw, composed brutalist palette uses exposed concrete, metal structures, dark wood, and pared-back industrial lighting. Accents of color in upholstery and wall-mounted artworks offset the neutral environment while photographs framed in metal add visual layering. Suspended ceiling speakers provide a curated soundscape. All furnishings were custom-designed by FORMANT Studio to reflect functional needs and a restrained material sensibility, enabling easy guest flow and varied visit durations.

Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine