Upside Down Café

Next up in a wave of innovative coffee-shop designs in New York: the new branch of D’espresso on Madison Avenue.

Inspired by the New York Public Library just one block away, designer Anurag Nema of nemaworkshop uses custom tiles to create the bookshelf effect that covers the walls and floor of the café. The flipped setting of the books alters the orientation of the room to appear as if gravity – and maybe sanity – has been abandoned.

The hardwood herringbone wall mimics a traditional floor design to further confuse and drive home the surreal style direction, reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland.

Nemaworkshop