Saudi Artist Reimagines Hail's Heritage With a Brutalist Café Design

Saudi-based multidisciplinary artist Faris Alosaimi finds solace in planning and designing scenic experiences for everyday life. His artistic vision is embodied in the revitalization of the ground floor of an ancient building in Hail, Saudi Arabia, into a café that draws inspiration from the stark elegance of brutalist architecture. 

“Saudi Arabia is an exceptional destination that seamlessly blends the aesthetics of design with high-quality specialty coffee,” Faris Alosaimi tells SceneHome. 

Masterfully fusing heritage, contextuality and modern brutality, the Camel Step Coffee Roaster design creates a symphonic dialogue etched within the echoes of the past. 

All white on the outside, the building’s ground floor walls are sharp-edged. The first floor features filleted corners resonating with the curved and arched windows - some framed in light blue, others seamlessly cut out from the facade - reminiscent of 20th-century modern architecture. 

At the foot of the building, a perforated wall exhibits a geometric design featuring a Cartesian grid interspersed with intersecting circles that are tangent to one another, each perfectly centred within the grid, creating a harmonious interplay of lines and curves. 

As you step inside, the natural granite stone-clad walls greet you with their rough warmth. Sourced from the Hail region, this granite brings an authentic feel to the design, its textured surface reflecting nature's rugged beauty and infusing the space with earthy elegance. 

The pale coral floor, draped in a blend of crushed red granite and concrete, paired with circular concrete tables in varying shades of red, casts a unique hue that enriches the space’s rustic, brutalist character. 

Simple yet elegant, the light wood contemporary furniture adds a layer of natural charm and tranquillity to the space, beautifully complemented by the abundant light pouring through the large windows. Beside this natural illumination, a red upholstered sofa radiates vibrancy and comfort, infusing the area with warmth and transforming it into a cosy sanctuary where you can dive into a captivating book while savouring a freshly brewed cup of coffee. 

“A large stone fireplace made from natural granite adds a touch of warmth and comfort to the area. The fireplace, with its attractive design, is used to create a cosy and relaxing environment, especially during cooler times,” Alosaimi adds. 

In another corner of the shop, Faris Alosaimi embraces an outdoor-inspired design featuring the same lattice walls as those on the facade. Adorned with lush green creepers, these walls cultivate a serene, nature-infused ambiance, inviting visitors to unwind in a tranquil setting. 

Photography Credit: Mansor Alsofi