“LIQUID CULTURE”
Café Roma
For the modern legions (of coffee drinkers)
DAVIS, CALIFORNIA / 1995
A half-block from UC Davis, this café, inspired by its motto—“Liquid culture”—emblazoned on every cup of coffee served, was a social extension of the campus: a hangout and cultural mecca. To foster a vibrant sense of belonging, I created a textured, atmospheric space equally suited for early-morning caffeine boosts, late-night group study sessions, and live performances.
Three simple cubes form the façade, varying in dimension, structure, material, and function. The central cube marks the entry. It is a copper-clad box on sturdy legs that extends toward the street, evoking European coffee-house flair. As one walks through the entrance, verdigris-green interior walls continue the story at the order counter.
MATERIALS
Existing café
Copper cladding
Patina
Abstract cow-spot mural
Steel beams
Slate tiles
The west cube, closest to campus, features a black, 11-foot-high mural wall with white circles that draws the gaze of passersby as a tongue-in-cheek abstraction—an ode to the black-and-white cow spots of Davis’ Aggie history.
The easternmost cube embraces the street corner's heavy daily commuter bike and pedestrian traffic. The interior floor plan connects through floor-to-ceiling glass doors to the oversized exterior slate patio, outlined airily by black steel bars, encouraging serendipitous social encounters.
Inside the café, an 18-foot-long stage along the back wall provides performance options and extra seating when needed. A rotating art display runs above the stage: all in the service of liquid culture.
