Reinterpreting the neighborhood's existing architecture, the Ramón Esteve Estudio team designed custom-made black enameled ironwork that blurs the boundaries between interior and exterior. To enable flexible use of the exterior, these motorized folding windows completely open the café to the street.
Inside, each piece of furniture was designed to follow the dynamics of the space, facilitating everyday use by both customers and the team. The design epitomizes a warm, sober, and open atmosphere, without any added decorative elements, where each element has a purpose.
OFF LINE Specialty Coffee by Ramón Esteve Estudio. Photograph by Alfonso Calza.
Project description by Ramón Esteve Estudio
Located in El Carmen neighbourhood, OFF LINE Café is conceived to place coffee and everything that surrounds it at the heart of the entire experience. The design is rooted in essence and the use of noble materials such as pine wood, black iron and ceramic, creating a warm, sober and open atmosphere in which each element has a defined purpose.
This space has been designed to make that experience possible, emphasising the essential and allowing the true central figure to be the very act of disconnecting.
In this café, we have created an environment where the quality of the products and the naturalness of the processes make the difference. Simplicity does not imply a lack of character—on the contrary: every detail, from the selection of ingredients to the choice of materials, reflects a clear philosophy. We use unadorned wood, iron and ceramic with a precise presence to support an honest and well-executed gastronomic proposal, where every coffee, tea or glass of natural wine is served with the same artisanal care with which the bare materials shaping the space have been selected.
Tailor-made carpentry is the main axis of the space. We have created an enamelled black iron structure that both defines and connects the interior and exterior of the premises. These motorised folding windows allow the café to open fully onto the street, creating a visual and physical continuity. Moreover, their design enables them to function as benches both inside and out, promoting flexible use depending on the time of day and customer flow.
The joinery design stems from a reinterpretation of the neighbourhood’s traditional shutters, integrating with the existing architecture through a recessed niche and maintaining a coherent language with the building. The pinewood panels contribute a warm, toasted tone reminiscent of coffee itself, and together with the iron and ceramic generate a simple yet refined atmosphere. Everything is on display and each material fulfils a specific function: there are no added decorative elements—only those that are necessary.
Special attention has been paid to the furniture. Every piece, from the benches to the tables and the counter, has been specially designed for this café, in order to align with the spatial logic and ease daily life for both customers and the team. The result is a harmonious, comfortable and versatile ensemble, in which nothing is superfluous and everything serves the purpose of generating a sensory experience.
