As a multi-level powerhouse, and consistently so for many decades, Singapore has emerged as an epicentre of all things in Southeast Asia, benefitting even neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia. Both countries have successfully established sizeable economic zones with alluring tax benefits right in the doorstep of the affluent island state, and the latter neighbour has done so on Batam, an island situated just across the Singapore Strait, and only a one-hour ferry ride away. Needless to say, life on the island, and specifically its eponymous capital city, has dramatically changed, showing a fast-growing infrastructure which starts to exceed sheer functionality and purpose of a typical boomtown, and even revealing signs of the allure and refinement of, yes indeed, good ole Singapore.
The renovation of the itsumo dessert café in Batam is exemplary of establishments targeting an in-the-know demographic, and its spectacular, new interior speaks volumes. Occupying a three-level 300 sqm. (3,229 sq.ft.) unit of a bland industrial building, the venue’s redevelopment, created by architect Svetlin Petrov of Tokyo-based architecture practice Kousou, resulted in a dramatic transformation with an outspoken identity. Aiming to be a retreat from the Batam‘s boomtown cacophony, including its abundant rapid-development architecture, itsumo café’s encapsulating blind façade may be a bold statement, but effortlessly signals its new stature as an alluring oasis. Inside, visitors find a recessed upper floor which creates a lofty atrium space, while a constellation of sturdy concrete beams, combined with the elongated skylight provide not only a dramatic visual interplay of light and shadow, but also allows rainfall inside.
Interestingly, it was the itsumo owner’s wish to bring rainfall inside, and this was accomplished by installing hidden rain gutters between the façade wall and skylight, allowing controlled rainwater to drip onto the small courtyard during storms. A second hidden gutter directs water out. Enhancing the sense of serenity and seclusion is the abundant use of the colour black. The selection of this hue is inspired by avant-garde Japanese fashion’s layered textures, as often seen in collections of Yohji Yamamoto and Comme des Garçons. However, in order to avoid a setting that’s too solemn, the colour has been paired with a curated palette of materials, such as stone, metal, and especially wood. The latter material covers the expansive facade, adding warmth and coziness to the setting.
On street level, a take-away counter opens onto the street, while the adjacent kitchen is entirely concealed. Visitors to itsume enter at the opposite corner by way of a staircase leading to the first floor. Here, guests find the venue’s first seating area, comprising light timber benches, fixed tables and stools in the atrium space, and larger communal tables and bench seating underneath the mezzanine floor. A bar is situated right next to the staircase. On the mezzanine floor itself, and additional seating area is readily available, featuring wooden chairs with wall-mounted tables, and a fixed large communal table paired with chairs on one side, and fixed stools on the other. As said, itsumo is a dessert café, and its menu lists a wide range of artisanal pastries, ice creams, and a variety of teas. © superfuture
itsumo
Jalan Komplek Penuin Centre, Blok C No. 1 (Lubuk Baja)
Batam 29444
Telephone +62 822 64652564
Daily 9am-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.
