Original Coffee
Within the leafy enclave of Østerbro in Copenhagen, we repurposed a historic gatehouse to accommodate a new coffee shop, balancing heritage with modern hospitality.
The new coffee shop is located in one of two original gatehouses entering the barracks of 1896. With its exposed red brick walls, white palladian windows, mansard roofs and strict symmetry the complex is a typical nero-baroque complex. In the 1900ies it underwent a commercial rebirth
Year
2025
Size
30m2
Location
Copenhagen
Photos
Marcus Trappaud Bjørn
Illustrations
Fruergaard Kampmann
Client
Original Coffee ApS
The gatehouse’s compact, perfectly square geometry dictated a move away from traditional seating toward a more fluid, transitional space. Inspired by the flower stalls of the adjacent square, we envisioned the interior as an extension of the plaza — an indoor, outdoor pavilion that remains open to the elements throughout the season.
Rather than masking the building’s humidity challenges with plaster, we embraced a raw finish on the walls. This durable, unrefined surface not only withstands the heavy wear of a high-traffic café but reinforces an honest aesthetic. To balance this rugged shell, we introduced warm timber for the bar area, creating a tactile and inviting workspace for the baristas.
To further blur the boundary between inside and out, the sides of the bar are clad in mirrored, polished steel, reflecting the surrounding plants and drawing the greenery of the square deep into the room.
While the interior layout strictly adheres to the site’s historic symmetry, it does so through a contemporary lens—honoring the 1896 complex while serving the modern rhythm of the city.
