Design firm: Miyao
Project name: Café Babalú
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Located on the ground floor of the Kairuz Building, a recently refurbished landmark and a prime example of Buenos Aires’ Art Nouveau heritage, Miyao Architects have overseen the design of Café Babalú. The project unfolds across two levels: the street-facing ground floor, where large windows establish a direct connection with the surrounding urban environment, and a more intimate upper level, where light filters through metal shutters functioning as brise-soleil. Painted in a distinctive sage green, the window frames act as a visual link between the historic character of the building and the contemporary intervention. This colour recurs across all metal elements, engaging in a subtle dialogue with the architecture of the Kairuz Building, constructed in 1913 and recognisable for its curved balconies—reminiscent of theatre boxes—and the metal dome that crowns the composition. In order to highlight the qualities of the existing envelope, the café’s design follows a principle of restraint. Inside, the space is articulated through a limited number of elements, defined primarily by a careful exploration of materials: onyx surfaces interact with painted iron, offset by the warmth of light wood used for panelling and furnishings.