Header: Daniil Primak
FEIN is a coffee shop in Yerevan, Armenia, designed by experimental design studio KIDZ, where the interior is built around the ritual of coffee preparation and the interaction between guests and the space.
Coffee as a base
The clients approached KIDZ to design the second location of the brand, envisioning a contemporary, bold and futuristic interior that would reflect their approach to coffee and hospitality.
With only minimal references provided, the studio developed the concept from scratch, responding to the unique characteristics of the site and treating coffee as the central element of the spatial experience.
Space, materials and coffee
The concept is based on a minimalist approach to materials and furniture, with the coffee bar serving as the focal point of the entire interior. The spatial composition unfolds around it: the surrounding walls appear to extend the movement of the bar itself, emphasising coffee preparation as the café’s main performance.
Extensive use of stainless steel interacts with natural and artificial light, reflecting the changing environment, lighting fixtures and the trees outside. As a result, despite the restrained material palette, the interior continuously transforms throughout the day, creating a rich and dynamic visual atmosphere.
The space is both understated and expressive. Clean forms, a simple palette of colours and a limited selection of materials allow the architecture and the play of light to take centre stage while maintaining a strong sense of cohesion and movement.
The large lightbox
One of the defining features of the project is a large lightbox that runs through the interior, visually tying the space together and acting as its compositional core. It is complemented by a backlit diffuser wall that produces a soft, sunset-like glow, subtly transforming the atmosphere and perception of the interior.
Carefully constructed detailing
Functionality played an equally important role in the design: the façade features a guillotine window system that opens the café to the street during warm weather, while the lighting design combines soft ambient illumination with focused lighting around the mirrors. Despite its complex lines, the coffee bar was carefully engineered to provide an efficient workspace.
The circular display case, for example, is one of the project’s signature elements. This detail was realised as a technically challenging yet visually striking feature, highly visible from the street and designed to attract the passersby’s attention.
Project information
Architecture Company: KIDZ
Design Team: Egor Bogomolov, Valeriy Egorov, Sonya Plyusnina, Natalia Meleshkina, Alyona Minaeva
Photography: Daniil Primak
Location: Yerevan, Armenia
