Karavaan Cafe & Bar in Amsterdam by Studio Modijefsky.

Karavaan in Amsterdam West is an all-day restaurant and bar with a caravan’s journey-inspired interiors by Studio Modijefsky. The bright, 357sqm corner site is subtly divided into different landscapes – meadow, swamp, forest, mountain and desert. Each is characterised by a unique colour scheme and materials, though all are unified by a trail that traverses the entire space.

“Sometimes a flipped light or a mark on the wall becomes a navigation tool to move through the different landscapes, just like in the old days, when stones were stacked, and rocks were marked to show the way,” says Studio Modijefsky.

The space unfolds from a lounge area at the entrance, indicated by changes in surfaces, interior finishes and décor. A pastel bar is versatile in function throughout the day, serving coffee in the morning and drinks in the evening. A mirrored sculpture hanging above the bar, with panels that can be flipped to read either ‘Karavaan Caffeine’ or ‘Cocktail Karavaan’. Studio Modijefsky use herringbone timber floors, natural oak bar, white ceramics, staggered yellow tiles and a wool carpeted ceiling to evoke the high grass of a meadow.

The meadow bar changes elevation as it wraps around the corner, with playful bespoke seating leading customers to a dining area. Dramatic elements create a more mysterious atmosphere, with a glossy ceiling, deep blue column and stucco walls recalling reflections in the water and the topography of a swamp. The central bar runs through this zone, featuring dark cork panels and a reflective zinc top.

Next to the bar is a more discreet dining area, shielded from the café’s wraparound windows. A tall bench seat with a green leather backrest overlooks the space, with dark colours and rigid lines evoking a shady forest. Beams of light peek through dividing walls, resembling rays of sun through dense tree trunks. The designers decided on a desert palette for the adjacent room, with an eccentric mix of bright colours, brown timber veneer and green tiles. At night, folding doors allow the space to be used as a private area, creating an enclosed room that crosses two different landscapes.

See more projects from Studio Modijefsky on Yellowtrace here.

[Images courtesy of Studio Modijefsky. Photography by Maarten Willemstein.]