Neighborhood Visit: Paulusquartier

The building at the corner of Steinenring and Bachlettenstrasse is a Paulusquartier landmark. Built in 1904, it originally housed a Bell grocery store—an early example of retail integrated into residential architecture. Today it’s home to a café that serves as one of the liveliest gathering places in the neighborhood.

We were commissioned to redesign the café's interior to improve comfort while highlighting the building's turn-of-the-century character. The unique panoramic glass fassade creates a bright, open space but also presents acoustic challenges. Our proposal introduces sound-absorbing curtains and textile floor coverings in key areas, with new upholstered furniture pieces and built-in banquette seating. Together, these elements effectively reduce high-frequency noise while maintaining visual connection to the street, and create a comfortable neighborhood ‘living room.’ Read how sound-rated textiles work.

The cafe’s panoramic glass fassade creates a bright, open space but also presents acoustic challenges.

Designing with sound absorbing materials reduces high frequency noise and creates a comfortable neighborhood ‘living room.’