CLIENT
Noir Hospitality Group

BUILDING AREA
1,200 SF Cafe / 3,500 SF Restaurant & Bar

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Located in the fast-growing east downtown district in Houston, Texas, Noir aims to provide a space that caters to its surroundings both day and night through the juxtaposition of a coffee shop and a speakeasy beneath a co-work office. Noir provides a serene café with a private yet engaging outdoor patio, as well as a mysterious and secluded speakeasy lounge bar. The second floor office leaves the historic façade unaltered, while the first floor of the development plays with views and light through the curated manipulation of the size and frequency of the apertures in the facades. The constant contrasts of the nature of both programs create a synergy that allows the building to provide a service to a wide variety of users. This repurposing renovation explores the potential synergy of different forms of commercial architecture through the tension between the welcoming environment of a neighborhood coffee shop and the enigmatic atmosphere of a speakeasy.