VIVIM Studio's proposal to renovate the Café del CaixaForum in Palma seeks to update the existing café, generating new spaces that blend tradition and modernity. The project focuses on the sinuous forms and the images or veiled reflections generated by the stainless steel of the bar and the sandstone walls. A new interior material allows for a fluid redefinition of access and movement, freeing up spaces and creating new ones: a versatile main room with a reserved space at the back and two auxiliary spaces that function as a wine cellar and storage area.
A renovation with minimal impact on the existing structure establishes a dialogue with the sandstone walls, passing through their arches and extending towards the exterior thanks to a careful contrast between lightness and materiality. A large, custom-designed light fixture accompanies and emphasizes the curved morphology of the bar. Its design is based on the abstraction of a sectioned light bulb, whose silhouette is projected in rotation following the bar's outline.
CaixaForum Palma Café renovation by VIVIM Studio. Photograph by Joan Guillamat Castells.
Project description by VIVIM Studio
Project and how it’s related to the project’s architecture
In this project, stainless steel is used as the main material in the construction of the bar, its lighting fixture, and auxiliary elements, providing a contemporary contrast to traditional materials such as marès stone.
Three beige acoustic panels serve a dual purpose: they improve sound comfort and allow for flexible space division. The lighting, featuring Venice lamps from Faro, has been arranged according to the placement of the tables to adapt to various configurations while maintaining a warm atmosphere.
The furniture has been chosen with the aim of conveying warmth and a Mediterranean essence. Notable pieces include the Lake chair by Andreu World, with a wicker seat; Thonet stools, made of stainless steel with an orange seat; and the palm wood bench by Cantarutti, also upholstered in orange.
The space is defined by a base of light and white tones that evoke calm and natural light. Stainless steel introduces a modern touch, while blue and orange accents—such as the cushions by Teixits Vicens—complement the walnut wood and reinforce the warm, Mediterranean character of the ensemble.
The pre-existing elements, such as the marès stone walls and marble flooring, are valued as architectural materials. At the same time, vegetation is conceived as another material within the renovation project.
Project description
CaixaForum Palma is located in an iconic Modernist building designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner. This unique setting serves as the starting point for a proposed intervention that seeks to preserve the historical spirit of the building while offering a renewed experience for visitors. The design of the new café has been conceived with the intention of establishing a timeless harmony between tradition and modernity.
The proposal presents a minimalist intervention born from the dialogue between sinuous stainless-steel forms that intertwine with the marés stone walls, in contrast to the building’s historical materiality. The new volumes efficiently integrate the new bar and auxiliary elements, redefine access points, optimize circulation, and free up space to increase the restaurant’s capacity without sacrificing balance and elegance.
The new bar stands as the central feature in the restaurant’s antechamber, creating a new focal point and marking the beginning of the visual path toward the large windows that open to the square and the historic center of Palma. This intervention also recovers the tradition of sitting at the bar to enjoy a coffee or a beer, a custom that had been lost after the previous renovation. A large, custom-designed light fixture accompanies and emphasizes the curved morphology of the bar. Its design is based on the abstraction of a lightbulb in section, whose silhouette rotates along the contour of the bar.
From this central gesture, two auxiliary stainless-steel volumes emerge, crossing through the arches of the wall that separates the antechamber from the main dining hall. These elements house the wine cellar and storage areas, which were previously dispersed across various pieces of furniture, thereby achieving greater operational efficiency and a more orderly spatial reading. The sinuous forms entice visitors, inviting them to cross over and explore the space hidden behind them.
The heart of the restaurant unfolds in the main dining room, where daily menus are served. Various furniture configurations are proposed here to foster a dynamic and versatile environment. A large, mobile coworking-style table designed for large groups coexists with high tables and stools, continuous benches, and other options that allow for a more informal or communal dining experience. Walnut wood furniture was chosen to contrast with the light marble palette, as well as with the existing white wall and ceiling surfaces. Discreet black ceramic pendant lights hang from the ceiling, and along with the vegetation, help create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
At the back of the main dining room is the private room, designed to host various types of events and which can either be integrated with or isolated from the rest of the restaurant depending on the occasion. This space is organized using three panels that function both as a backdrop and as acoustic absorbers. The first is a large sliding door that allows the private room to be fully closed off. The second serves as a projection screen, concealing an administrative area behind it. The third completes the enclosure and is used to store auxiliary materials for the restaurant’s daily operations and event setups.
The intervention is approached with a respectful attitude toward the pre-existing architecture, aiming for minimal impact on the original structure and resolving the entire operation through “three volumes and three panels.”
