The AOI CELESTIE Coffee Roastery by Yuko Nagayama & Associates represents a thoughtful architectural intervention that transforms a bustling urban corner in Nagoya into a serene oasis for the celebration of coffee culture and community engagement. Situated at a prominent intersection near Nagoya Shinsakae-machi Station, this 690-square-meter mixed-use facility combines a specialty coffee roastery with multi-level café spaces and an underground event hall.

The design’s most striking feature is its expansive, floating roof clad in custom Tajimi tiles with a distinctive blue gradient that mimics the changing sky. These architectural sensibilities serve both as a visual landmark and a functional element that channels rainwater into the central courtyard garden.

The AOI CELESTIE Coffee Roastery’s spatial organization creates a carefully choreographed experience — from the ground-floor roastery and sunken seating areas that engage with street life, to the olive tree-shaded second-floor lounge, and culminating in the intimate third-floor bar that offers panoramic views of both the interior atrium and exterior cityscape.

Image Credit: Nobutada OMOTE