I003
Bon Appetit
Amman, Jordan
2024
Area: 100 m2
Contractor: Engineering Solutions Contracting Photography by: Mohanad Jihad
Status: Built
Bon Appetit is a contemporary urban café that brings exterior materials indoors, blurring the boundary between city and interior to create a calm refuge within a hectic neighborhood.
Located in the neighborhood of Abdoun in central Amman, Bon Appetit occupies a two-story space within a mixed-use building. Conceived as a pause within the urban rhythm, the café offers a place where architecture, materiality, and hospitality come together to soften the pace of daily life. The design fosters warmth and calmness while seamlessly blending the café into the surrounding neighborhood. Bespoke elements, crafted from scratch, create an inviting and memorable environment for visitors.
The aesthetic is defined by clean lines and neutral tones, establishing a refined monochromatic atmosphere. Stone floors and textured walls evoke the tactility of the outdoors, bringing warmth and familiarity to the interior.
At the core of the concept lies a simple yet powerful principle: to bring the outdoors indoors. Materials commonly associated with exterior spaces are reinterpreted within, translated into a language of calmness and intimacy.
The layout emphasizes openness and connection. A fully glazed façade opens to flood the space with natural light, creating a continuous dialogue with the neighborhood. This transparency blurs the threshold between inside and outside, reinforcing the idea of the café as an extension of the city, a place that belongs to the street yet offers protection from its intensity.
Seating is thoughtfully arranged to encourage community and comfort. A custom-crafted wooden bench, paired with bespoke chairs, reflects a sense of durability and craft. Every design gesture, from the stone flooring that recalls outdoor textures to the restrained monochromatic palette, reinforces the café’s identity as a contemporary urban refuge.
At the entrance, the coffee bar anchors the space. Conceived as a stage, it transforms coffee making and pastry preparation into a performance—celebrating the artistry of food while fostering transparency between staff and guests.
