Traum Kaffee Istanbul - A Minimalist Work Café in Başakşehir
Location and Architectural Context
Traum Kaffee Istanbul is a contemporary café design project located within the Metroway Mixed-Use Complex in Başakşehir, Istanbul. The complex features a dynamic mix of functions, with retail units on the lower levels and offices on the upper floors. Within this multi-layered environment, Traum Kaffee was envisioned as a modern work café concept: a space where casual meetings and focused work can coexist seamlessly.
Interior Design Concept: Minimalism with Warmth
The café benefits from a wide glass façade that opens onto a landscaped green space. To complement this natural outlook and enhance the functionality of the workspace, a minimalist design concept was adopted.
The use of a soft white color palette combined with light-toned wood finishes results in a bright, clean, and calming atmosphere: ideal for a work-focused café environment. Every element within the space was purposefully designed; no decorative excess was included. Even the custom wall-mounted shelving, crafted from light wood, blends with the background to support visual continuity and spatial harmony.
To further reinforce the minimalist language, the flooring and structural columns were left in their original, exposed concrete finish, emphasizing material honesty and architectural clarity: key principles in contemporary café design.
Brand Integration: The Iconic Bar Element
The most distinctive and visually dominant element in the space is the café bar counter, which doubles as a branding feature. Clad in Traum Kaffee’s signature orange color, the bar acts as both a functional coffee service station and a statement of brand identity. Aligned parallel to the glass storefront, this linear bar design maintains spatial flow while anchoring the café visually from every angle.
Lighting Design: Subtle Functionality
The lighting design further supports the overall minimalist café interior. Selected fixtures are modern and unobtrusive, allowing the design to remain clean and visually uncluttered. Special attention was paid to ensure lighting enhances visibility around the coffee preparation zone, highlighting the café’s role as a productive and professional workspace.
Engaging the Public Realm: Transparency & Interaction
The café’s interface with the mall corridor was also carefully crafted to foster interaction and attract foot traffic. A welcoming glass façade framed in minimal lines provides a transparent and inviting entrance. Directly behind this frontage, an open-concept kitchen and bakery adds visual interest and encourages customer engagement through sensory appeal: an effective strategy in commercial café architecture.
Multimedia Wall & Brand Storytelling
On the interior wall opposite the main entrance, a dedicated projection surface was installed to display brand storytelling content. This digital feature wall plays a promotional video about Traum Kaffee’s identity and journey, strategically placed to draw the attention of passersby and deepen brand recognition.
Exterior Seating & Transition Zones
In line with the minimalist design approach, the exterior café presentation remains understated and cohesive. Functional outdoor seating and planters beneath the existing canopy help establish a smooth visual and physical transition from exterior to interior, reinforcing the design’s consistency and elegance.
A Contemporary Café for Work and Leisure
The Traum Kaffee Istanbul Project represents a successful blend of brand-driven design, minimalist interior architecture, and user-centered spatial planning. Every aspect - from material selections to functional layout - was curated to reflect values of simplicity, transparency, and functionality.
As a model for modern café design in Istanbul, Traum Kaffee exemplifies how thoughtful architecture can support both work productivity and leisure comfort, while enhancing brand identity and creating a unique customer experience.
