On London’s Fenchurch Street, WatchHouse is coffee shop nestled within the bustling atrium of a large office development. As befitting the upright, professional environment, the shop’s interior pulls from the design of civic building lobbies. EBBA applied modernist architectural elements toward the small chic space, nodding to Dublin’s Miesian plaza buildings, which bear many architectural similarities to Mies van der Rohe’s Seagram Building. Like an espresso, WatchHouse packs a punch within a small frame.

As one approaches the small cafe, the minimalist palette lures you in. Outside it is masked in black grid metal framing, a stark contrast to the warm wooden oak paneled walls inside. There is a constant dance between cold and warm materials throughout the shop: the wood-grained walls against the light gray Ceppo stone floor; the breezy white wall curtain against the heavy, sculpted steel counter that centers the cafe. Although each demands your attention, it doesn’t feel overwhelming or heavy within the space’s layout.

Benni Allan, EBBA’s founder, shared, “Embracing WatchHouse’s values and passion for creating spaces where people want to ‘spend time,’ we looked to imagine a sanctuary in the city—somewhere that felt beautiful and inviting, whilst also being highly functional and flexible.” One way the local architecture and design firm applied this ideology was through furniture, custom designed and built in-house by EBBA. Oak chairs are loosely wrapped in leather, offering an ergonomic feel while obtaining a contemporary appearance. Alongside these sleek objects, EBBA designed a grand oak table, skillfully crafted from solid wooden blocks to mimic the forms of stacked timber. But the central furniture piece remains a steel counter, spanning more than 26 feet, also crafted by the architects. It acts as the main stage for baristas to show off the art of coffee. A singular chunky, wooden stool lies in front like a playful outlier.

The grid applied on the storefront repeats inside the cafe, bringing to mind the strong linear patterns exhibited in the Seagram and Miesian plazas. Carved out within these strict lines of the wide oak panels is the coffee bar. The backwash and countertop don a rich Ceppo stone and the side walls feature a shiny steel. Continuing the clean lines, the products themselves are thoughtfully displayed: 18 silver canisters of coffee along three shelves blend within the surrounding aesthetic. Every detail is accounted for—even the two sets of four thin metal strands holding the shelves up.

There is a sense of comfort here provided by the rational, rule-following grid of the interior. It both uplifts WatchHouse’s coffee, putting it quite literally center stage, while slotting seamlessly into London’s modern offices.