A Café Born from Passion
Hobby is a specialty café located in the Chacarita neighborhood of Buenos Aires. Its name reflects the shared passion of its owners, who delight in the art of coffee making. They take joy in exploring new flavors, pairings, and dishes, turning their enthusiasm into a space where coffee lovers can immerse themselves in this shared hobby.
Embracing Artisanal Craftsmanship
The concept of Hobby as a café is rooted in the idea of coffee as a craft learned through experience. Inspired by the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, the café celebrates beauty in imperfection and the ephemeral. This approach is reflected in everything from the architecture to the ceramics and lighting, emphasizing simplicity and rusticity. Every piece designed for Hobby is crafted by artisans, showcasing the authenticity and uniqueness of handmade work.
Integrating with the Neighborhood
The layout of the café is designed to foster integration with the surrounding area. The counter, constructed from hand-carved in-situ concrete, is placed close to the sidewalk, encouraging social interaction and enhancing urban life. Seating near the entrance takes advantage of the height difference between the interior and exterior, creating a dynamic transition space. An automatic lifting gate adds a workshop-like character to the café, allowing for versatile use and direct connection to the sidewalk.
A Warm and Inviting Atmosphere
The color palette of Hobby is based on gray and neutral tones derived from natural materials, complemented by metallic elements, woods, and leather upholstery. This combination creates a warm and inviting atmosphere that reflects a strong neighborhood identity. All furniture and equipment, from tables and chairs to lighting fixtures and decorations, were exclusively designed for the café. The use of natural materials and rustic textures enhances the artisanal identity of the space.
Culinary and Architectural Synergy
The café’s gastronomic proposal was developed in tandem with its architectural identity to ensure a cohesive sensory experience. Tables feature oven-baked sheet metal tops with irregular concrete bases, complementing the hammered concrete counter. These elements create a contrast between rustic, artisanal finishes and smooth, refined surfaces. The main communal table, crafted from a single piece of blue cedar with a natural gloss finish, is supported by a folded zinc-plated sheet base, adding to its rigidity and aesthetic appeal.
Thoughtful Interior Design
Inside the café, solid totem-like benches made from pine and walnut wood accompany the main table, while rustic incense and pine wood planks are used for the interior chairs, embracing the project’s imperfect aesthetic. The library cabinet, integrated with the counter, provides storage space and is designed with galvanized sheet metal sides and rustic wood shelves. Wooden modules beneath the counter align with the communal table base, adding a distinctive touch.
Functional and Aesthetic Integration
The kitchen and restroom areas feature a translucent metal curtain, creating a permeable boundary that integrates the entire space and contrasts cold and warm textures. Outdoor seating is made from natural quebracho sleepers, offering flexible and dynamic use as seats or support surfaces. Additional tables and mobile chairs complement the interior’s rustic and artisanal design.
Minimalist Graphic Design
The café’s graphic design is subtly applied, with simple elements on glass and hand-painted details that merge the identity of the craftsman with a minimalist style. The brand’s logo is displayed on a wall as a lighting fixture made from hammered Florentine bronze sheet metal, complemented by other artisanal pendant lights and minimalist linear fixtures.
Celebrating Imperfection and Authenticity
Hobby is a project that embraces aesthetics and authenticity, inspired by the concept of wabi-sabi. It celebrates impermanence, incompleteness, and imperfection, creating a unique aesthetic and sensory experience. Every detail, from worn textures to deliberate architectural imperfections, contributes to an atmosphere of serenity and harmony. In a world focused on perfection and permanence, Hobby invites reflection on the beauty of the ephemeral and the richness found in simplicity and authenticity, reminding us that life is a process of constant evolution.
