Fine coffee with fine acoustics

The atmosphere in this café in the Latin district of Aarhus in Denmark is relaxed while the sound of the coffee machine and the noises from the street blend easily with the music and the customers’ voices.

The acoustics here are just right, because La Cabra’s owner Benjamin Evar believes that aesthetics, materials and craftsmanship all play a role in the café.

Consequently, young architects Mikkel Selmer and Simon Sjøgaard designed and planned everything scrupulously. Their focus has always revolved around the composition and meeting of materials and they are constantly seeking to challenge the potential of each individual material in order to achieve better aesthetic solutions.

The white Troldtekt acoustic ceiling, largely perceived as a homogenous surface, has a natural acoustic effect in the room but to find out how the surface and the joints would look when installed, the architects studied a mock-up. At the cafe entrance, the breadth of the room and its central focus are emphasised by a narrow row of wooden strips across the ceiling while around the sides of the café, the low level panels have more discreet joints and are arranged to define the room’s length.

Troldtekt was chosen for its simple appearance and performance, creating as it does synergies between the acoustics and the aesthetics. La Cabra’s staff is uncompromising in everything they do, a quality which also extends to the interior, which is rooted in the original qualities of the building where clean lines underpin the coffee experience. It can also be found in the cellar, where the coffee beans are roasted. The intention is that transparency pervades everything, from the actual taste experience to the coffee story and the choice of fittings and equipment.

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Café La Cabra is highlighted in Architecturedigest's recommendation: Why Design Lovers Should Visit Aarhus, Denmark