It’s safe to say that coffee is synonymous to the Middle East, a region where its distinct flavour was first appreciated many centuries ago, and has been a prized liquid ever since. Interestingly, the consumer market has been shaken up as of late by a Hong Kong-based coffee parlour with global ambitions: % Arabica. Founded by Kenneth Shoji, a Japanese-born and U.S.-raised entrepreneur, % Arabica has opened a number of design-led branches in Kuwait in recent years, making the city a foothold for further expansion in the region. Its latest outpost, situated in the suburban seaside Abu Al Hasaniya neighbourhood, sees a sleek interior design by acclaimed Tokyo-based practice nendo that optically blurs the boundaries between inside and outside. Occupying a 190 sqm. (2,045 sq.ft.) ground floor unit at Mall 30, one of Kuwait’s newest shopping complexes. The premises have a curvilinear, terraced layout, and a service station situated on the top level. The % Arabica café seats a total of 30 people at once, and the lowest terrace extends beyond the floor-to-ceiling glass window, providing additional al fresco seating. The sleek café is adorned by an installation of orderly arranged linen coffee bags encased in glass. A subtle infusion of brass, captured by a brass railing and small circular tables that dot the seating area.
% Arabica
Mall 30, Fahaheel Expressway, Shop G3 + G4 (Abu Al Hasaniya)
51400 Kuwait
Telephone: +965 22257180
Daily 7am-11pm
Publishers Note
Just to be clear – superfuture® is a design blog and not a political commentator. No surprise there. The scope of our content has always been global and borderless, however that can often mean covering projects in countries where we will not agree with the politics or actions of those countries. In a world that’s as screwed up as ever right now, the focus of our support is to those designers, architects and other creatives who aim to make the world a more liveable one – as opposed to people that try their hardest to destroy it. So if a project hits our desk and we like it based on its design credentials, we may choose to publish regardless of its location or creators nationality. superfuture® has always been inclusive and hopes for all current wars, aggression, violence, hate and extremism to end.
