Cafe Nero
Location: Trinity Square, Nottingham
Find image (left) reference below
On Tuesday 3rd May 2016 I visited Cafe Nero coffee shop in order to conduct primary research into a precedent. I analysed multiple aspects of the cafe to draw inspiration for personal projects.
At the time I visited, 7.15pm, the outside temperature was 12 degrees, partly cloudy with 54% humidity. It was a comfortable climate for shoppers to enjoy local attractions and visit a local coffee shop such as Cafe Nero. At any one point in my 40 minute stay, there was an average of 16 people in the shop, taking approximately 1/4 of the available seating so it was fairly busy.
There was a diverse group of people visiting the cafe shown by the following statistics:
There was a range of activities taking place in the cafe. These were some of my observations:
Ambient, inviting, multipurpose. These are 3 words I would use to describe Cafe Nero. The dimmed spotlights and scattered pendant lights create a calm yet focused environment, perfect for work as well as social gatherings. Vast windows running the whole stretch of the front and side elevations allow a balanced level of light to flood in (not too much to be uncomfortable, but more than enough to perform your desired activity). The accompanying music, predominantly acoustic, contributed to the calming vibe of Cafe Nero. The fact you can sit in an air conditioned environment behind a grand expanse of glass looking outside gives you a sense of sheltered protection, shielded from outside elements. The cafe looks fairly compact, however the careful layout of furniture and the wall separations giving way to enclosed corners makes you feel comfortable and separated from passers by walking past your table for example. One observation I made was how workers opted for the bolt upright chairs to improve their focus, whereas people on a social visit opted for low sofas which they were able to lie back in for relaxation. Therefore the furniture provided suits different peoples needs to create different atmospheres where appropriate. It seemed to me that everyone had a similar experience to myself, enjoying the experience and utilising the lovey setting. In fact, 90% of the customers who had arrived before me left after I did (staying for longer than 40 minutes to make the most of the experience).
As you walk in, it is clear to see the proposed circulation through the cafe, with the difference in tiles indicating where to walk. After you pass two tables to your left, you are instantly greeted by a large, raised level, sandwich and coffee display counter. Once you pay for your items you have the choice of 2 separate seating areas directly opposite the counter. Another benefit to the circulation and layout is the clarity on where the toilet is. You can see it clearly from when you pass the checkout area, so there is no confusion as to where to go. The clearly separated areas allow a sense of privacy, making it a very comfortable and enjoyable experience on the whole.
Here is a picture of the floorplan of Cafe Nero. The pink dots represent where people were sitting when I recorded my observation.
Location: Trinity Square, Nottingham
Find image (left) reference below
On Tuesday 3rd May 2016 I visited Cafe Nero coffee shop in order to conduct primary research into a precedent. I analysed multiple aspects of the cafe to draw inspiration for personal projects.
At the time I visited, 7.15pm, the outside temperature was 12 degrees, partly cloudy with 54% humidity. It was a comfortable climate for shoppers to enjoy local attractions and visit a local coffee shop such as Cafe Nero. At any one point in my 40 minute stay, there was an average of 16 people in the shop, taking approximately 1/4 of the available seating so it was fairly busy.
There was a diverse group of people visiting the cafe shown by the following statistics:
- Age range: 19 - 50 (approximately)
- Sex: 60% of the customers were female
- Ethnicity: Predominantly white English although there was a mix of Asians, Indians and Eastern Europeans
There was a range of activities taking place in the cafe. These were some of my observations:
- Talking over a social coffee meeting with friends in a relaxed laid back manner
- Working on a laptop listening to music
- 3 businessmen conducting a focused work meeting using an iPad
- One couple having a romantic date
Ambient, inviting, multipurpose. These are 3 words I would use to describe Cafe Nero. The dimmed spotlights and scattered pendant lights create a calm yet focused environment, perfect for work as well as social gatherings. Vast windows running the whole stretch of the front and side elevations allow a balanced level of light to flood in (not too much to be uncomfortable, but more than enough to perform your desired activity). The accompanying music, predominantly acoustic, contributed to the calming vibe of Cafe Nero. The fact you can sit in an air conditioned environment behind a grand expanse of glass looking outside gives you a sense of sheltered protection, shielded from outside elements. The cafe looks fairly compact, however the careful layout of furniture and the wall separations giving way to enclosed corners makes you feel comfortable and separated from passers by walking past your table for example. One observation I made was how workers opted for the bolt upright chairs to improve their focus, whereas people on a social visit opted for low sofas which they were able to lie back in for relaxation. Therefore the furniture provided suits different peoples needs to create different atmospheres where appropriate. It seemed to me that everyone had a similar experience to myself, enjoying the experience and utilising the lovey setting. In fact, 90% of the customers who had arrived before me left after I did (staying for longer than 40 minutes to make the most of the experience).
As you walk in, it is clear to see the proposed circulation through the cafe, with the difference in tiles indicating where to walk. After you pass two tables to your left, you are instantly greeted by a large, raised level, sandwich and coffee display counter. Once you pay for your items you have the choice of 2 separate seating areas directly opposite the counter. Another benefit to the circulation and layout is the clarity on where the toilet is. You can see it clearly from when you pass the checkout area, so there is no confusion as to where to go. The clearly separated areas allow a sense of privacy, making it a very comfortable and enjoyable experience on the whole.
Here is a picture of the floorplan of Cafe Nero. The pink dots represent where people were sitting when I recorded my observation.
To my understanding, the third place is in a communal building like Cafe Nero where people go aside from their two usual places: workplace and home. Cafe Nero is an excellent place to go for a social meet up or even to do work and it provides all the means for these activities in a comfortable friendly setting.
Cafe Nero image reference: Paul J Flemming, (2016), Cafe Nero (ONLINE). Available at:http://79.170.44.128/flemingprojects.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/nero.jpg (Accessed 8 May 2016).
Cafe Nero image reference: Paul J Flemming, (2016), Cafe Nero (ONLINE). Available at:http://79.170.44.128/flemingprojects.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/nero.jpg (Accessed 8 May 2016).
