Visiting the original L’Atelier Cafe in Cluj, Romania

Located in Cluj-Napoca, commonly known as Cluj, the second most populous city in Romania, this original coffee shop entitled L’Atelier Cafe attracts more and more visitors every day thanks to its unique and interesting interior design. Here is the description from the project developers: “The idea of planning was initiated by a simple thing – that need for a space meant to influence the mood at a subtle level of perception, that kind of perception which only culture might develop. 

Therefore this was a call for a room where to foremost promote and maintain culture. This idea was the result of two concepts converging two teams, namely Marius Bocan, Vlad Paul, George Mosoia- on one side, and Dan Paul, Bogdan Goția and Tiberiu Bucur- on the other. 

The second team was built up by three architecture students, their main focus being the conception of space language following the development of a clearer link between space and personality. This concept suited the idea of the first team to settle a cultural cafe for Cluj’s urban area. 

Cardboard-coffee-culture were eventually the elements which described the place located in Cluj somewhere on Memorandumului Street. After several months of work, the 13th of May, 2010 was the official opening day. 

Working also with volunteers was both useful for the effective effort tension and for the atmosphere they created around, for the atelier-air they brought inside and the good disposition. Although this is a place where furniture is 'different' we are actually celebrating every day the little things that bring us closer. 

Besides the cafe we developed a cultural plan including: workshops, portraits and caricatures, photo exhibitions, concerts, theater plays which are part of that link between space and personality, fed with cardboard inspiration and good coffee”.

[Photography by Monica BOCAN and Mădălina CHEREGI ]