An Inspiring Contemporary Cafe in a Former Automotive Warehouse

This Greater Goods Coffee Roasters contemporary cafe in Austin, Texas, was designed by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture. The architecture studio took on the challenge of upgrading a 61,569 square-foot old automotive warehouse in East Austin. With connectivity in mind, they sought to make it ideal for public use. The result is an inspiring contemporary cafe, roastery and training facility. Composed of creative spaces, it encourages social interaction.

“We sought to preserve the existing steel structure and use the gabled profile of the trusses to vault the roof,” the architects said. “Translucent polycarbonate panels along the north wall and skylight allow for natural light to fill the coffee shop.”

A vibrant combination of materials and textures make up the interior. It invites guests to visually explore each nook of the contemporary cafe. The architects planned the layout in order to maximize the synergy between the functional areas.

“The design revolved around a central bar which allows patrons to experience any side of the café. By elevating and breaking up the bar into smaller volumes, it encourages interaction between the guests and baristas,” the architects added. “A gabled seating niche in the back is framed with a steel window for visibility into the roaster.” Information provided by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture; photography courtesy of Chase Daniel