When coffee becomes part of the architecture
At HelmerHus in Copenhagen, a coffee station became an architectural centrepiece. Designed by Over Byen Arkitekter for Ordnung, the bespoke island combines natural stone, wood and brass with a fully integrated TopBrewer coffee machine.
We spoke with architect Cathrine Thingstadengen about the creative freedom of designing with an under-counter coffee solution, the challenges of installation, and how thoughtful integration can transform a functional necessity into part of the architectural experience.
A coffee island, not a coffee corner
At HelmerHus in Copenhagen, the coffee station sits at the heart of the reception. Clad in Patagonia natural stone, fluted wood and brass, the freestanding island feels like a piece of architecture in its own right.
It was designed by Over Byen Arkitekter for Ordnung’s shared office reception. Architect Cathrine Thingstadengen wanted the island to belong to the room rather than compete with it. With Scanomat’s TopBrewer brewing equipment concealed beneath the counter, the materials and furniture could take centre stage.
You can choose to make a centrepiece, because you only have that little spout coming up from the tabletop.
The coffee island at the Ordnung+ reception
Design freedom starts below the surface
Unlike a conventional countertop coffee machine, TopBrewer places the brewing unit below the worktop, leaving a slim tap above. For Cathrine, this opens up the form of the furniture: the coffee station can be approached from different sides and designed around the room’s circulation, materials and proportions.
That freedom still calls for planning. Cathrine brings TopBrewer into her drawings early, using a 3D model to coordinate the equipment, user position and surrounding movement. Space beneath the counter, water, drainage, power and service access all need to be resolved as part of the furniture design.
It gives us the possibility of shaping any kind of tabletop and any kind of base, as long as it’s big enough for the machine.
In the early design stage
The detail that makes the design work
The HelmerHus island is built from three slabs of Patagonia stone. Its fluted wooden panels slide into the central structure, providing access to the equipment without disrupting the exterior design. The team also engineered the base and checked the floor loading to accommodate the stone.
These details are largely invisible to visitors. That is the point: technical access and structural requirements were designed into the concept, rather than added afterwards.
That was a bit tricky, but it ended up really nice
A place to meet, pause and gather
The island does more than serve coffee. In a shared reception, it becomes a natural point of arrival and conversation. With the countertop kept clear, the same surface can hold flowers, art or refreshments for an event.
Architecture first. Coffee integrated.
The reception at Ordnung shows what happens when a coffee solution is considered early in a project. Rather than deciding where to put a machine, the architect can design the space and integrate the coffee experience into it.
It’s a meeting point and a hangout space, depending on where it’s placed.
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