This project transforms the first floor of a stately three-story brick-tiled house—formerly used as a restaurant—along with its airy conservatory, into a board game café. The renovation also includes the addition of a new brick terrace along the street, which doubles as a parking space, and the reconstruction of the long porch leading up to the main house. These interventions prompted us to consider how brick could become a guiding element for reimagining the entire site as a cohesive and more attractive environment.

The existing contrast between the brick surfaces (used both on the exterior and partially, though painted white, on the interior) and the stark white-painted portions of the building created a strong visual division—one that split the site into two dominant materials: brick and “non-brick.” Our goal was to soften this opposition and allow for the site’s diverse features—such as the beautiful courtyard and the gentle ramp leading to the main house—to be experienced as part of a single, continuous environment.

To achieve this, we introduced brick as a rhythmic presence throughout the series of connected spaces: from the new brick terrace to the white porch, the brick-clad façade, the white-painted interiors, the exposed brick walls inside, and finally the white conservatory. This deliberate alternation creates a visual dialogue across thresholds.

Inside the main house, we retained much of the original layout and materials, keeping alterations to a minimum. A portion of the stockpiled brick tiles—once reserved for repairs—was applied to the interior walls. We also reorganized the circulation around the reception counter by partially opening up a wall to allow views from the entrance through to the café, modified the existing counter, and added a comfortable bench along the window facing the conservatory.

Due to budget constraints, the porch ultimately underwent only minimal repairs, yet the overall spatial sequence gained clarity and cohesion through subtle interventions.