Once a meeting place for the elite, Cafeneaua Veche has hosted Romanian cultural figures such as Mihai Eminescu, Veronica Micle, Ion Luca Caragiale, and King Carol II.
Cafeneaua Veche appears in official documents in 1812, but its story begins in 1781, when Armenian Stefan Antîlop received permission from Prince Alexandru Ipsilanti to build a coffeehouse near the Princely Court.
The current owners wanted to preserve the picturesque atmosphere of the past era, but at the same time, they aimed to modernize the space, which had lost its relevance due to subsequent renovations.
Thus, there were no alterations to the exterior – the walls, tiled roof, and shutters have been renovated according to their original patterns. The 200 lion heads and the eight carved faces on the white walls date from the 19th century.
The plaque inscribed with the name of the coffeehouse and the two iron lamps suspended on the façade are among the architectural elements that have been preserved over the years.
The historically certified building houses a restaurant and a coffee shop on the ground floor, and a space for shows or private events in the basement, all under the name of Cafeneaua Veche 9.
The architectural intervention did not bring any changes to the existing layout. The ground floor, with rooms arranged in steps and a ceiling height of almost 4 meters, comprises four rooms with a cross-vaulted roof, a professional kitchen open to the restaurant, and an employee area.
Three of the main rooms serve as the restaurant, and the fourth is a coffee shop with separate access from the outside, which can operate independently outside of the restaurant's operating hours.
The rooms are separated by arches whose perspective ends, from the bar, with the "Tree of Life" – a symbol of the rebirth of Cafeneaua Veche. The tall, arched windows open to the outside, and on summer evenings, the terrace becomes an extension of the interior, enhancing the space's dimensions.
In the basement, the brick vaults and arches have been preserved and restored. The only intervention was concealing the waterproofing at the base of the arches with perforated sheet metal panels. These panels are designed with a self-supporting structure, without mechanical attachments to the floor or walls. The stage is the focal point of the space. The custom-made installation with dimmable lights and red velvet drapery adds a touch of drama to the artistic performances. From there, the performing artists can sense and guide the energy of the audience.
The gallery's layout has light as its main element. The different types of lighting (accent lighting, ambient lighting, general lighting, etc.) offer versatility and create distinct scenographic effects depending on the event.
On both levels, the proposed furniture and the color palette in neutral tones enhance the architecture of the space, emphasizing the arches and the amplitude of the vaults.
The interior layout aims to create distinct functional zones, allowing returning guests to discover a new space with each visit. In the morning, they can enjoy an origin coffee in the coffee shop, then they can work remotely at the window, in the sofa area. For lunch, they can order a Quattro Stagioni at the central bar, located in front of the pizza oven. Later, they can have dinner in the main restaurant salon, and if they want to conduct a business discussion, they can do so in the VIP lounge. In the evening, they can attend a jazz show in the basement event space.
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