Joy Studio & Joy Cafe

The intervention is concentrated on the building envelope. The existing structural frame remains intact, while a continuous outer volume reshapes the relationship between glazing, structure, and public space.

Deep reveals and rounded edges give the façade depth, allowing light and shadow to define its changing appearance throughout the day. Recessed glazing strengthens the perception of the white frame, reducing the visual weight of the original volume and creating a more articulated façade.

The spatial organization follows a clear vertical sequence, with each floor introducing a distinct function while contributing to the overall experience of the complex.

The ground floor is organized around the reception, which provides orientation and access to the building's different functions. Joy Cafe occupies the main area of the ground floor, establishing the building's first point of interaction.

One level above, the boutique restaurant offers a quieter atmosphere for dining, separated from the activity of the entrance. The third floor shifts the focus toward recreation, accommodating a children's entertainment area.

The fourth floor combines leisure and education, bringing together a private cinema, a robotics classroom, and spaces for after-school learning. At the top of the building, the fifth floor houses a conference hall for meetings and events alongside the client's private office, creating a more focused and professional environment.

Supporting the entire complex, the basement accommodates the main production kitchen together with technical and back-of-house facilities, ensuring the efficient operation of the building.

Located on the ground floor, the reception forms the building's main point of arrival, welcoming visitors and guiding them to the café, restaurant, cinema, conference hall, and creative studios distributed across the upper floors. The sculptural host desk organizes guest arrivals and reservations while establishing a calm and intuitive first impression.

The merchandise zone is designed as an integral part of the café interior, extending the JOY brand experience beyond food and facilities. A sculptural display with soft curved geometry creates a clear focal point without dominating the space. Backlit translucent panels introduce a warm glow and highlight the products.

The waiting area extends the arrival sequence, providing a comfortable space where visitors pause before moving to the different functions distributed throughout the building. Sculptural furniture, diffused lighting, and warm materials establish a quiet and inviting environment.

Joy Cafe introduces the project's material and spatial language. The interior is organized around the brand's orange identity, expressed through translucent acrylic seating, custom furniture, integrated lighting, and a restrained palette of natural materials.

Rather than applying color as decoration, orange becomes part of the architecture, shaping the atmosphere of the space through light, material, and reflection.

By using a variety of ceramic tiles, we created a unique wall mural that introduces the identity of the café, and carried this idea into the tabletops, extending a single geometric language across the interior. Translucent seating responds to changing daylight, introducing reflection and color without adding visual weight.

The result is an interior defined by geometry, material, and light rather than applied decoration.

Movement through the building is defined by a staircase shaped as a continuous sculptural volume. Its rounded surfaces, filtered daylight, and repeating frames create a sequence of changing views, turning circulation into an architectural experience.

The boutique restaurant introduces a calmer atmosphere while maintaining continuity with the architectural language established throughout the building. A rich palette of green tones, complemented by Brazilian quartz, warm timber, and contrasting materials, creates a refined and balanced interior. Brazilian quartz tabletops become sculptural focal points within the dining space, while textured surfaces and layered lighting enrich the atmosphere with depth and warmth.

The restaurant is organized around a calm and restrained material palette, where natural light and carefully controlled illumination shape the atmosphere throughout the day. Rather than exposing the kitchen, it is placed behind a softly illuminated frosted glass wall that reveals only movement and silhouettes, maintaining a visual connection without interrupting the dining experience.

Above, a folded canopy of hot-rolled corrugated steel reinterprets the traditional architectural cornice through a contemporary language. Its rhythmic profile introduces depth and shadow, defining the transition between wall and ceiling while becoming one of the restaurant's primary architectural elements.

Designed specifically for JOY, the sculptural floor lamp was conceived as a vertical counterpart to the folded steel canopy. Its simple monolithic form and rhythmic arrangement of illuminated circular openings echo the geometry established above, creating a dialogue between the two elements. Soft ambient light emphasizes the surrounding materials while giving the restaurant a subtle architectural focal point.

Inspired by the architectural language of Haus Nowhere in Seoul, the bespoke coat stand translates the building's sculptural verticality into a functional garment rack, combining everyday use with a distinctive architectural presence.

The fourth floor's hallway and reception area lead visitors toward the cinema, extending the building's material and lighting language into a more intimate sequence of arrival.

The cinema is conceived as an immersive space where architecture enhances the viewing experience. Rounded walls and ceiling merge into a continuous enclosure, while concealed lighting traces the geometry of the room, guiding the eye toward the screen. The restrained palette of dark materials minimizes visual distraction, allowing light, film, and sound to become the primary spatial elements.

The conference hall is introduced through a restrained arrival sequence that marks the transition from the public circulation areas to a more focused environment. A sculptural reception desk, warm walnut surfaces, and soft integrated lighting define the entrance, creating a calm setting for meetings, presentations, and events.

Located on the top floor, the private lounge provides a quiet setting for meetings, focused work, and moments of retreat. Warm walnut wood, textured natural finishes, and soft furnishings establish a calm atmosphere, while curved architectural forms soften the space and create a sense of openness. Large windows fill the room with natural light and frame views of Vanadzor, making the landscape part of the interior experience.