At Omsk State Agrarian University, DA BUREAU has designed a new coffee space where the boundaries between coffee consumption and production blur, transforming the roasting process into a living, immersive element of the public space.

Overlooking a pine forest and surrounded by the greenery of the university campus, the new SKURATOV coffee occupies a peaceful setting, slightly removed from the rhythm of the city. Yet, stepping inside, visitors encounter an environment that feels anything but conventional. Rather than concealing its operational side behind the familiar atmosphere of a café, the space reveals its inner workings, inviting guests to become part of the coffee-making experience.

The idea was to bring two different worlds into conversation: the academic environment of research and experimentation, and the production philosophy of Skuratov Coffee, built around a continuous exploration of the coffee bean. Their intersection gave rise to the concept of an open laboratory, where expertise, production and everyday social life coexist under one roof. It is also an expression of DA BUREAU's broader approach to architecture, understood not simply as a way of shaping the appearance of a business, but as a tool for its development and interaction with the community. This philosophy is immediately reflected in the interior. Concrete columns, ventilation systems, air conditioning units and lighting installations remain exposed, while galvanised metal panels and suspended structures extend along the perimeter and into the furniture. Nothing attempts to disguise the functional character of the space. Instead, its industrial language becomes an integral part of the identity, creating the impression of stepping into a working workshop where every element has a purpose.

At the heart of this environment lies the relationship between the café and the roasting laboratory. Separated by a glass partition, the two areas remain visually connected, allowing visitors to observe almost every stage of coffee production. From the storage of green beans to sorting, roasting and packaging, the entire process unfolds in full view before the finished products are distributed to other cafés within the space. The laboratory also hosts cupping sessions, guided tastings that introduce visitors to the characteristics of different coffees and encourage a deeper understanding of the product. In this way, the venue extends beyond the traditional café experience, becoming a place for learning, discovery and the exchange of knowledge.

The public area, meanwhile, is designed around different ways of spending time together. Intimate corners accommodate quieter conversations, dedicated areas provide space for working, while a central lounge encourages spontaneous encounters and new connections. The intention is not to impose a single way of experiencing the café but to create an environment that can adapt to the different needs of students, academics, local residents and coffee enthusiasts. A more playful dimension emerges in the central space, where a mirrored coloured wall takes the place of conventional artwork. Reflecting the movements, people and everyday activities of the café, it becomes a constantly evolving installation in which visitors themselves are part of the composition.

Lighting completes the atmosphere, reinforcing the industrial aesthetic while introducing warmer, more expressive elements. Tubular fixtures illuminate the working areas, while an orange, spring-shaped light installation adds a sculptural accent, echoed by matching details throughout the furniture. The most distinctive feature, however, is found in the lounge area where illuminated tables become contemporary versions of the traditional hearth. More than functional surfaces, they act as gathering points, bringing people together and introducing a sense of warmth and intimacy into the otherwise industrial setting.

The relationship with the surrounding landscape continues outdoors, where a spacious terrace overlooks the university courtyard. Its design draws inspiration from gardens and vegetable plots, familiar elements of Siberian childhood and an important part of the university's agricultural identity. This connection between nature and memory softens the technological character of the interior while extending the café's social life into the open air.

Photography  Dmitry Suvorov

Interior Design DA BUREAU