I Think some Cafe is Floating in Japan
Kengo Kuma & Associates have evoked an architectural vision with the newly opened Cs Somme Café in the heart of Fukuoka, Japan . Located on the northern coast of Kyushu Island, a coastal city renowned for its food culture , the new structure is covered in a thin metal mesh façade, seemingly floating above a small green oasis in the city. Overall, the project evokes a sense of otherworldly solitude amidst the urban density. Like a shimmering mirage, the soft façade transforms the café from a white glass box into an inhabitable sculpture.
Image © Katsumasa Tanaka
Kengo Kuma Reconstructs the Flying Propeller
The design team, led by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, took an innovative approach when designing the structure of the Cs Somme Café. The mesh frame with arch supports is integrated to connect with the internal mesh frame. The interaction of the structural elements makes the café design appear light and airy, while ensuring seismic stability. The system is a modern reinterpretation of the flying buttress, reinforcing stability while maintaining visual lightness. In addition to the spectral appearance, the mesh provides passive energy savings by filtering sunlight, reducing the need for artificial cooling.
Under this cover, Cs Somme Café occupies a gleaming white cube. A polished plaster counter floats in the center, its sophisticated finish contrasting with the soft transparency of the stretch fabric lamps. The interior feels almost weightless, thanks to the perfect balance of light and texture, further enhancing the dreamy concept of the café. Here, craftsmanship and innovation create an atmosphere that is both intimate and otherworldly, demonstrating the studio’s ability to transform everyday spaces into poetic experiences.
Kengo Kuma designed the Cs Somme Café, a ‘floating’ oasis in Fukuoka, Japan.
The cafe is covered with a thin metal mesh, giving it a mirage-like appearance.
Steel arch frame and internal mesh frame provide earthquake resistance.
