According to in-the-know locals, Bekasi is seen as more than emblematic of Jakarta‘s sprawling yet bland suburbia, but as of late, it has gained a cool edge. Situated in Bekasi Selatan, the southern part of this sizeable eastern district of Indonesia‘s capital, a cool café and store has opened its doors which has not only spiced up the hospitality and retail scene, but also ticks all our boxes. Called Hakken, it occupies 200 sqm. (2,153 sq.ft.) set across two floors of a modern low-rise structure, and features an interior design by Studio Kota, an architecture practice based in both Jakarta and Hong Kong. From afar, the venue stands out thanks to an added façade of perforated metal plates which follows the contours of the existing building, incorporating square and arched windows.
By day, the façade appears more opaque, while nighttime illuminations transform it into a more transparent canvas. The entire ground floor is home to Hakken‘s café section, featuring an understated setting with an intentional DIY vibe. The service counter is clad in OSB panels, a material which is also captured by the staircase leading upwards and an entire side wall, which form a matching backdrop. Timber panels encase the seating area, paired with a large pegboard side wall and concrete brick flooring. Furnishings are equally spartan, comprising concrete benches, wooden tables and stools. The corner of Hakken café is chamfered, creating space for a small sheltered terrace, but it also accentuates the main entrance.
A bigger outdoor terrace sits right outside with what could be described as inventively designed elevated platform seating, but in fact, is a nod to traditional Indonesian lesehan or ‘seated on mat’ seating. The café’s menu lists various coffee concoctions, mocktails, pastries and a selection of hot dishes and bites. One floor up, the Hakken store is situated. An large shelving unit, cabinets and moveable displays of OSB panels are paired with pegboard walls and concrete brick flooring, and two linear light fixtures, suspended X-shaped from an exposed ceiling, add a playful element to the setting. Two rows of light spots provide additional lighting. The shop stocks a curated selection of apparel items, books and lifestyle items.
Hakken
Jalan Setia (Bekasi Selatan)
Jakarta 17147
Daily 10am-10pm
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.
