QAHWA

Qahwa is a spatial study in how architecture can cultivate connection. Designed by Asta Studio, the café reinterprets the traditional living room: a central element of local domestic architecture into a public space that feels both open and intimate. The design draws from vernacular forms and materials: thick, textured walls that moderate light and heat, earth-toned surfaces that reference the surrounding landscape, and layered seating arrangements that echo the rhythm of communal living. Soft transitions between zones allow for multiple modes of gathering quiet solitude, conversation, or shared meals. Instead of imposing a singular aesthetic, Qahwa emerges from the logic of lived space. Arches, recessed niches, and tactile surfaces all contribute to a narrative of familiarity reimagined. It's architecture that hosts, listens, and remembers creating a spatial identity rooted in culture but framed through a contemporary lens.