Renovation & Design
MIDNIGHT CAFE
Café / Hospitality Space
- Location
- Sari
- Area
- 22 m2
- Client
- Mr. Eng. Zamani
- Design Studio
- Akja
About Project
Midnight Café is a modern hospitality project located in Sari, Iran, designed and constructed for Engineer Zamani. Developed within a footprint of only 22 square meters, the project combines renovation and new construction strategies to transform a compact urban site into a distinctive takeaway café destination. The design focuses on creating a strong visual identity despite its limited size, establishing Midnight Café as a recognizable landmark within its neighborhood through a carefully composed façade and atmospheric lighting.
Interior Design
The interior follows a contemporary design language built around a signature combination of warm yellow and crisp white tones, creating a welcoming and energetic atmosphere throughout the day and night. Due to the project's small footprint, the space was intentionally designed as a takeaway-oriented café, while still incorporating a limited seating area for short stays and social interaction. Large glazed surfaces strengthen the connection between the interior and the street, allowing the café to feel open, bright, and inviting despite its compact dimensions.
Design detail
One of the key architectural decisions was the strategic setback from the street frontage, creating additional breathing room for customer circulation and enhancing the café's urban presence. The façade acts as the primary design statement, combining clean modern geometries with a carefully orchestrated lighting scheme. Warm linear lighting integrated into architectural elements reinforces the yellow-and-white color palette, producing a memorable nighttime identity. The project also reflects AKJA's signature rendering and design approach, where atmosphere, light, and material simplicity work together to create a visually striking experience from a minimal architectural intervention.
Furniture Design
All furniture and built-in elements were custom designed and fabricated with strict budget considerations, proving that a strong architectural character can be achieved without excessive cost. Seating, counters, display units, and service components were developed using simple construction methods and economical materials while maintaining a cohesive modern aesthetic. The furniture design prioritizes durability, functionality, and spatial efficiency, ensuring that every element contributes to the overall experience without occupying unnecessary space. Through careful detailing and resource-conscious fabrication, the furniture becomes an integral extension of the architecture itself.