Designed by: @field___studio

Captured by: @janaklendere

Kalve Espresso Room Tatari is located in Tallinn’s Tatari district, within a six-storey building completed in 1937. The interior draws on the architectural language of Northern European Functionalism and Estonian interwar design, responding to both the building’s structural rhythm and its original façade. Rather than recreating the past, the project establishes a dialogue between the building’s history and a contemporary café environment.

During Estonia’s interwar period, modern architecture remained closely connected to traditional construction methods, with wood continuing to define many interiors. Functional layouts, generous windows and restrained detailing became subtle expressions of modernity. This context informed the design approach, resulting in an interior that reflects the building’s architectural character while supporting the everyday functions of the café. The coffee bar anchors the space, while seating, retail areas, storage and service spaces are arranged to create a clear and flexible layout.

The material palette combines dark red and light timber, textured wood veneer, stainless steel, solid wood furniture and rough-finished Histolith walls. Existing conditions presented both challenges and opportunities, with mismatched finishes, plasterboard partitions, uneven ceilings and ageing linoleum disrupting the original spatial qualities. Rather than replacing these elements entirely, the project began by documenting and uncovering traces of the building’s earlier construction hidden beneath later interventions.

The renovation focused on editing rather than adding. Plasterboard elements were removed, surface layers reworked and crafted timber panels introduced around the existing stone columns, which were finished with Histolith to preserve their material presence. The ceiling was unified into a single plane to improve spatial continuity, while the original materials and historical traces were retained wherever possible. The result is an interior that feels lighter and more coherent while remaining closely connected to the character of the existing building.