Six Coffee + Wine cafe
SIX COFFEE + WINE CAFE
Naaw
ARCHITECTS
Naaw
LEAD ARCHITECT
Elvira Bakubayeva
DESIGN TEAM
Tomiris Ramazanova, Victoria Akram
PHOTOGRAPHS
Damir Otegen
AREA
300 m²
YEAR
2025
LOCATION
Almaty, Kazakhstan
CATEGORY
Interior Design, Coffee Shop Interiors
English description provided by the architects.
As part of our ongoing exploration of Almaty's identity through urban café interiors — following our previously published project Fika (2023) — this new space continues our investigation into the architecture and spirit of the city as both reference and point of departure.
In Six Coffee Wine, familiar materials and techniques are reinterpreted in contemporary form through close collaboration with local artisans and artists, reviving their presence through experimentation and spatial storytelling.
Located in the historic centre of Almaty, Six Coffee Wine is a cafe conceived as a spatial transition — from morning to evening, from coffee to wine.
This narrative unfolds across five interconnected halls, each embodying a distinct moment in the day through shifting palettes, lighting, and atmosphere.
Light modulation is achieved using a combination of custom shutters and stained glass.
The project is grounded in Almaty's architectural heritage.
Shell limestone with embedded sea shells — a material visible on the façades of the Kazakhstan Hotel, Palace of the Republic, Arasan Baths and other local landmarks — is reinterpreted across interior walls.
Stained glass elements echo decorative motifs from Arasan, the city cathedral, and Stained glass elements reference motifs from Arasan, famous Ascension Cathedral, and the building of the historic fashion academy Symbat.
The stained glass, created in collaboration with artist Zhanel Shakhan, features a custom gradient that mirrors the day-to-night progression.
Subtle "easter eggs" — stylized miniatures of the cafe's own interior — are embedded within the glass, encouraging closer observation.
These transitions are expressed not only through zoning and light but also through a material palette that subtly evolves throughout the space.
The flooring is terrazzo, tinted to match the tone of shell limestone, and accented with marble inlays deeper into the plan.
The bar counter, carved in undulating forms from shell limestone, is anchored by a custom curved stainless steel light fixture — a sculptural element at the heart of the cafe.
Works by Almaty-based photographer Bauyrzhan Sabit appear throughout the walls.
In the morning zone of the bar, warm yellow tones are layered with soft pinks, complemented by a felt wall tapestry from local design studio Dunie, reinforcing the project's tactile and temporal themes.
Custom travertine tables are paired with seating from Aq Objects, a local brand whose designs draw from traditional yurt furniture.
Plopp chairs — sculptural icons produced through a rare inflation technique — introduce an element of material surprise and contrast.
Lighting fixtures were sourced from Pholk, Verpan, and &Tradition.
Much of the furniture was custom-designed specifically for this project.
The corridor leading to the kitchen and restrooms is fully clad in gradient panels across both floors and walls.
These were developed by NAAW exclusively for For Walls, a local brand specializing in architectural surfaces.
