The French design firm crafts a two-level space that shifts from airy openness to moody intimacy.
A Historic Setting for a Contemporary Ritual
French design studio Ciguë has transformed a historic 1870s cast-iron storefront at 54 Bond Street into the flagship for 12 Matcha. Spanning two floors, the design pairs a bright, open service area above with a more secluded tasting space below, rooting the modern matcha experience in the building’s layered history as both a bank and a theatre.
Original Douglas fir floorboards remain intact, while the green-toned clay walls and a dark green-enameled lava stone bar bring a natural warmth to the upstairs café. Three oversized glass vessels filled with Japanese Binchotan charcoal turn the water-filtration process into a striking visual feature, blending function with artistry.
Balancing Urban Edge and Organic Calm
The materials palette fuses city grit with soft, natural textures. Custom furnishings feature hand-applied green lacquer, brushed stainless steel shelving, and minimalist concrete surfaces, echoing the purity and precision of matcha preparation. Slatted window shades diffuse daylight to evoke the dappled light of Japanese tea fields, adding to the sensory experience.
From Light to Shadow
Descending a walnut staircase, guests enter the moodier, glass-enclosed tasting lab on the lower level. Here, an oval light fixture casts a gentle glow over an enamel-stone table, paired with sleek steel bar chairs. The contrast between the sunlit upstairs and the atmospheric downstairs creates a journey through two distinct moods — one inviting and social, the other intimate and reflective.
