Roar designs Drop’s first outpost in Abu Dhabi: A monochrome, texture-driven coffee haven.

Roar has imagined a minimalist, texture-driven interior scheme for Drop Coffee’s first outpost in Abu Dhabi, designing its second cafe for the homegrown Emirati brand.

Pallavi Dean, Founder and Creative Director of Roar, comments: "We wanted Drop’s Abu Dhabi location to have a different feel from the one we designed in Dubai last year while visually incorporating similar design references such as the materiality and subtle organic forms. We intentionally chose a serene, monochrome palette to infuse a sense of calm and create an environment in which guests can seamlessly meet, work and relax."

The cafe’s backdrop is a grey concrete textured paint, applied in its very rough form across the entirety of the walls, and combined with natural oak wood accents that come to life in the joinery work.

The focal point of the cafe is a long brushed stainless steel communal table which snakes through the space. Light modules are built into the table at regular intervals to create subtle partitions which allow separation and privacy between the guests.

The main bar is adorned with a textured paint that replicates the serendipitous traces left by spilt coffee on a surface. Dean explains: "We were in the studio and started playing with the idea of using spilt coffee as a motif within the scheme, which we thought would be a fun nod to the brand’s name, Drop. We laid down large pieces of paper in front us, dripped some coffee on them and dragged a mug around, letting our creativity run wild! We then photocopied the pattern and magnified the scale to apply it as a textured paint on the main bar. The same motif also extends to the booth joinery against the wall."

Roar conceived various custom shelving components including a black marble topped alcove behind the booth seating area as well as individual drop-shaped stainless steel shelves, designed as a striking ensemble on the wall, which hold open coffee bean canisters allowing guests to sample the aroma of the different house brews.

Alongside a number of bespoke furniture elements – including a pair of upholstered poufs and stools as well as a bespoke bench and two standing tables – Roar selected intriguing, sleek-lined pieces.

The ceiling features multiple domes which are covered in a special textured paint with mirror shards embedded within. The effect echoes the floor’s chipped terrazzo tiles in a subtle dialogue of forms and textures. Compositions of spherical pendant lights are nestled in each dome as though suspended in the air.

Featuring floor to ceiling windows, the space is flooded with natural light and opens up to an outdoor area where customers can enjoy their favourite brew underneath a large-scale, backlit Drop sign.