CAFÉ MOTO is a coffee and retail shop in Manhattan's downtown Tribeca neighborhood that is geared toward motorcycle enthusiasts and espresso aficionados alike. The design takes cues from the resurgence of the "café racer,"a style of motorcycle from the 1960s and 70s that is again popular. Essentially, the café racer is a standard bike that is customized to be minimal and unique, stripped down and streamlined, fast and functional.

The design employs the concept of the garage door to reveal the relationship between interior and exterior, while fetishizing the materials and aesthetic of the café racer. This is repeated inside the space, where the garage door structure becomes shelving and racks for retail, supports a screen and creates a hanging marble counter. The garage doors allow for a connection between the shop and the street, while the connection to the neighborhood is emphasized by the cobblestone floor.

The large window on the west side encourages a visual connection with a clear view of the perforated leather screen that separates the public and private space. The materials that define the space include painted steel, leather, cobblestone and chrome, as well as wood, concrete, and marble. Whether the shop is welcoming a neighbor or a group of friends reconvening after a long ride upstate, CAFÉ MOTO is meant to evoke a sense of approachability and openness.

Faculty for the project: Justin Huxol

The design employs the concept of the garage door to reveal the relationship between interior and exterior, while fetishizing the materials and aesthetic of the café racer. This is repeated inside the space, where the garage door structure becomes shelving and racks for retail, supports a screen and creates a hanging marble counter. The garage doors allow for a connection between the shop and the street, while the connection to the neighborhood is emphasized by the cobblestone floor.
The large window on the west side encourages a visual connection with a clear view of the perforated leather screen that separates the public and private space. The materials that define the space include painted steel, leather, cobblestone and chrome, as well as wood, concrete, and marble. Whether the shop is welcoming a neighbor or a group of friends reconvening after a long ride upstate, CAFÉ MOTO is meant to evoke a sense of approachability and openness.

Faculty for the project: Justin Huxol