Among Southeast Asia‘s bustling capital cities, Jakarta has long been a sleeping giant in terms of retail, hospitality, fashion, design and all the other lifestyle prerequisites that shape a city and contribute to a distinct identity. Sure, the usual global brands have been present in Indonesia‘s sprawling capital city for quite some time, but only in the past ten to fifteen years or so have local brands and companies stepped up, while more overseas niche names from the aforementioned industries are also increasingly setting up shop. In the latter category falls Kurasu, a Kyoto-based coffee parlour chain and coffee roaster. Tapping into the sensibilities of a growing demographic of young, savvy Jakartans, Kurasu opened its first outpost in the city’s leafy Kebayoran Baru area one year ago, followed a few months later by a second café in the same neighbourhood.
Nestled on the ground floor of an existing building, Kurasu‘s second branch occupies an L-shaped, 75 sqm. (807 sq.ft.) unit. The interior design, created by Japanese architecture practice Kousou, takes cues from Kissaten, traditional Japanese coffee shops which developed in the early 20th century, and a Jazz Kissa, a café where patrons listen in the evening to a curated selection of jazz vinyl over a cocktail or two. As such, the café, dubbed Kurasu Kissa, features a cozy setting which not only effortlessly transitions from daytime to evening, but also honours the aesthetic of the two Japanese locales. Walls covered in cement plaster is paired with an infusion of timber, captured by plank flooring, ribbed wall panels, large ceiling panels, and last but not least, the majority of furnishings and fixtures. The palette of materials is intentionally low-brow and locally sourced. Mind you, as Kurasu Kissa is a place where music plays a pivotal role, calibrated acoustics are important.
As such, specialised wood fibre acoustic panels and locally handmade paper have been used to accomplish this, while shelving for records and merchandise combined with rough cement plaster take care of the dispersion of sound. Upon entering Kurasu Kissa, two inviting seating arrangements, comprising comfy cushioned benches, sofas, but also tables and chairs, line the two large floor-to-ceiling windows. A striking elongated light fixture of metal and handmade banana tree fibre paper straddles across the ceiling, unifying both areas. On the opposite side, cabinets and tiered shelving stretch to the back of the premises where a full-fledged service counter with additional bar seating can be found. An additional counter and wall-mounted storage with built-in high-quality speakers complement the setting. As for lighting, another key element of creating a good atmosphere, functional and artistic lighting has been shunned in favour of indirect lighting for products and the vinyl collection, in addition to highlighting areas for social interaction.
Right outside, near Kurasu Kissa‘s entrance, an outdoor terrace is situated. Taking centre stage is a tiered planter, flanked on three sides by another planter and a low bench which collectively demarcate this additional seating area, which is crafted from local stone and Ulin wood. Needless to say, the outdoor design is an extrapolation of sorts of the chosen aesthetic inside the café. Kurasu Kissa is an all-day venue, and its menu reflects this, featuring a wide variety of expertly made coffee concoctions from various blends, artisanal matcha, various cocktails, in addition to savoury bites and pastries. But that’s not all. Catering to arguably Jakarta‘s savviest dwellers, the café regularly hosts events related to music, gastronomy and lifestyle, engaging with a large number of leading tastemakers from these sectors. © superfuture
Kurasu Kissa
Jalan Iskandarsyah I no. 9 (Kebayoran Baru)
Jakarta 12160
Telephone +62 877 95118933
Daily 8am-12pm
Publishers Note
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