yinjispace

INTERIOR
Studio KIDZ
PHOTOGRAPHY
Ilya Ivanov
EDITOR
Gina
Collection

The Peacock café project in Riyadh marked KIDZ studio’s first experience working in Saudi Arabia and continued the story of a local coffee brand that began with a roasting facility in the small city of Ha’il. The brand’s founder aimed not just to create a place to sell coffee, but to establish a new urban point of attraction — a café that would revitalize the neighborhood and become a space people would want to return to.

The guiding principle in developing the concept was the client’s desire to create a cozy, “home-like” atmosphere. This wish resonated with the architectural idea of a Japanese garden — a space where wood functions not only as a material, but as a symbol, and where the focus is not on an object, but on a feeling. This concept allowed for a gentle integration of the exterior corridor and the complex interior geometry with its structural columns, turning an otherwise overlooked spot into the emotional centerpiece of the project — a glass-enclosed zone with greenery and soft, diffused light.

The space is organized around several functional zones, unified by a coherent flow and visual rhythm. Visitors are greeted by a direct line to the main bar, with a product display shelf placed opposite. Slightly deeper into the space is a separate espresso bar and pastry zone. Closer to the façade, along the full-height windows, is bench seating designed for small groups or individual work. At the center, a long communal table with a live tree informally divides the seating into two autonomous areas.

A lounge seating zone is located beside the “garden,” creating an additional sense of privacy. The layout also includes a drinking water station, standard sofa seating groups, and outdoor seating in a private courtyard.

Materially, the project is built on a combination of light concrete, natural wood, and white walls. The color palette is pastel and soft, supporting a sense of calm and comfort. The visual straightforwardness of the furniture and architectural elements highlights functionality without overwhelming the perception, creating a background for the strong natural accent — the garden.

The project was a new experience for the team — from the absence of local contractors and adapting to unfamiliar construction practices, to the need to consider cultural and religious context. Technically, the project did not require complex construction methods, but an important architectural takeaway was the necessity of carefully planning seasonal usage scenarios. Given the extremely hot summers and open winter seasons in Riyadh, the configuration of the glass doors played a key role. The combination of folding and hinged panels was chosen not only for aesthetic reasons but also for functional ease. This solution ensured the needed flexibility: allowing the space to be easily adapted to different seasons while maintaining the interior’s visual rhythm.

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