We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer Jun Watanabe about their original and creative Cafe design work. Jun Watanabe is an award-winning architectural designer, that makes our world a better place with their original cafe works.
Jun Watanabe ("JW") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work Arabica Riyadh Roastery Cafe. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
JW : I start every project by studying its context—brand, location, and era—to create a design that feels truly at home. Each background is unique, and that naturally leads to originality.
JW : The goal was to turn the vast space and oversized custom roaster into a place for a memorable experience. Saudi regulations required separate order counters for men and women, inspiring a layout that lets guests enjoy the roaster and baristas from multiple viewpoints.
JW : No.10 will continue designing %Arabica stores worldwide, each tailored to its location. Including ongoing projects, we have created about one-third of the brand’s stores globally.
JW : Over two months, I explored multiple concepts with the brand owner, from a store floating on water to one resembling a mosque courtyard, always aiming for a space with a special sense of experience.
JW : Through discussions, we defined the core idea: a place to enjoy the process of coffee-making. This vision shaped the plan, along with operational needs and local culture. I coined “Theater-Style” as the concept to capture this essence.
JW : This is an original design for an existing store, with no plans to lease or sell the rights.
JW : As %Arabica’s largest store, it needed to offer something different. The brand always adapts its stores to local character, and here we aimed for a café with unique value that exists nowhere else.
JW : Achille Castiglioni, Isamu Noguchi, and Kenya Hara have deeply influenced my design process through their works and writings.
JW : While popular across all ages, %Arabica especially attracts those in their teens to thirties. In Saudi Arabia, where coffee often replaces alcohol, I hope guests of all ages enjoy it with all five senses.
JW : Other large roastery cafés exist, but few focus so strongly on the sensory experience—watching beans roast, hearing the grinder, smelling the aromas, and enjoying the baristas’ craft.
JW : The store name came from the brand owner. I created the term “Theater-Style Café” to express a multi-sensory journey from bean to cup.
JW : I worked with a laptop, iPad, pen and paper, using Vectorworks, Illustrator, and Photoshop.
JW : The experience changes with each seat—face-to-face with the roaster, at eye level, close to the kitchen, or overlooking from above—thanks to the central atrium and three elevation levels.
JW : Lighting design was by Hiroshi Enami of L.GROW. In an all-white space, light balance is crucial, so we centered it on the roaster and kitchen counter.
JW : I used 3D renderings to refine sightlines from every seat.
JW : Advice from the franchise owner on Saudi lifestyle shaped choices like furniture size, curtain transparency, and mirror placement.
JW : Designing seating to suit local customs took time. I used sheer curtains for privacy, adjusted furniture for traditional attire, and added mirrors for comfort.
JW : High praise for the café led the company to recommend entering the competition. I had long wanted to apply to the A’ Design Award.
JW : This project took time and collaboration, reinforcing for me the value of working closely with others.
JW : We enhanced the experience with many touches—showing the roaster from outside to spark curiosity, opening the view from low ceilings to an atrium, and using height and layout to create a layered sense of space.
