Cafe de Leche

Highland Park, CA, 2008

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Cafe de Leche was developed as a new center of Highland Park, a public hub where the local residents could enjoy coffee and mingle with friends. The corner site and expansive windows suggested developing the long elevation inside the cafe as a kind of billboard with an image of the San Fernando as mountains seen from inside the cafe. The counter and partition walls are set at a subtle angle, producing a tension between elements that extend and foreshorten views into and out of the cafe and further activating the space.

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Interior Elevation

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The long bench and angled walls also maximize space and seating. The deep space is anchored by the children’s play area, which has become a popular meeting place for moms and kids.

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