CAFE BABEL
Authors: Petra Zakrajšek, Urška Černigoj (GAO Architects); Radovan Jenko (Graphic design) Surface area: 115 m² / 85 m² café Investor: Bellevue Living Location: Ljubljana, Slovenia Completion year: 2024 Photographer: Miran Kambič Contractors: Mizarstvo Trunkelj, Arcadia Lighting, Klun Ambienti, Grmk, RPS, PROprima, 3Ž Supplier for custom pieces: Faber Sanitary equipment: Gessi, Antonio Lupi Wallpaper: Radovan Jenko for Wall&decò
Photographer: Miran Kambič
Café Babel is located in the Bellevue Living complex, situated at the intersection of the city center, Tivoli Park, and Lower Šiška district. In the desire for the café to be more than just a classic meeting place, we collaborated with graphic designer Radovan Jenko in the design process.
While GAO Architects shaped the volume of the café, Radovan Jenko took on the creation of the artistic image inspired by a mythological story.
“The starting point of inspiration was the mythological story of the Tower of Babel. The Tower of Babel is an original myth and allegory from the Book of Genesis, explaining why people around the world speak different languages.
According to the story, a united human race speaking a single language settled in the land of Shinar after the universal flood. They decided to build a city and a tower tall enough to reach the heavens. God, observing their city and tower, confused their language so that they could no longer understand each other, scattering them across the world.
Etymological Explanation
The phrase "Tower of Babel" does not appear in the Bible; it is always referred to as "the city and the tower" or simply "the city." The native Akkadian name of the city was Bāb-ilim, meaning "Gate of God." However, it is now assumed that this form and interpretation resulted from Akkadian folk etymology applied to an older form of the name Babilla, of unknown meaning and likely non-Semitic origin. According to the Bible, the city got its name "Babel" from the Hebrew verb (bālal), meaning to mix or confuse.
On this basis, I created the artistic identity of the café, where different languages meet in a space, forming a modern Babel that speaks of the erudite diversity of life.” - Radovan Jenko
Upon entering the café, we are greeted first by an impressive counter made of black Neolith, behind which is a backdrop of tinted mirror reflecting the color scheme of the space. This includes shades of purple, brown, and gray.
A pillar in the center of the space is surrounded by custom-made display cases that continue into benches. Additional benches are also arranged along the entire perimeter of the café, with additional seating provided by chairs of various materials and textures. These materials are repeated in the backs of the benches, designed in the shape of letters. The letter shapes are also echoed in the cut tables.
The café has two private booths located on either side of the space, overlooking the courtyard or garden of the café. Both booths are illuminated by fixtures from the brand Aromas.
The general lighting in the space not only creates a pleasant ambiance but also highlights the pièce de résistance of the café – unique wallpaper designed for the café by Radovan Jenko. The wallpaper was custom-made by the Italian company Wall&decò. The wall coverings stylistically complement those in the epic flooring.
A distinctive feature of the interior design is that the floors and walls with wallpaper are the main highlights of the design, while other elements are designed to support and complement the overall appearance of the space.
The floors of Café Babel are covered with 3,205 different hand-crafted calligraphic letters, containing 96 phrases. The wallpaper enveloping the walls measures 64.34 m² and features 524 images. The result of numerous unique strokes and the merger of interior design and art is a modern Babylonian universe that takes visitors on a unique mythical journey through the rich symbolism of illustrations, letters, words, and phrases.