New Bakery Café

Neuenstadt am Kocher, Germany

Photo © Rainer Retzlaff Photographie

Retail + Stores

Architects: KREOR Architekten + Ingenieure

Location: Neuenstadt am Kocher, Germany
Year: 2021

The new bakery café was built on the site of a former sawmill at the foot of the Brettach River, in the heart of Neuenstadt am Kocher. The primary goal was to revive the area’s distinct spatial and property qualities in a way that is characteristic of the region, while also creating a new identity.

The property is defined on one side by the noisy, heavily trafficked main road through the town, and on the other by the wild, vegetated riverside of the Brettach. The café responds to these contrasting elements through its size, positioning, and design, reinterpreting them in a unique way while still reflecting the typical local structure. The natural riverside area dominates the rear of the property. A public footpath runs along the riverbank, crossing the café terrace and bringing new vibrancy and use to the riverside zone.

The two-story bakery café, which includes a sales counter, ancillary rooms, and various seating areas both indoors and outdoors, is characterized by generous visual connections and pathways, as well as a desire to blend the interior and exterior spaces. The design features expansive glass façades, planting areas, and natural materials such as wood, concrete, and steel. The highlight is the terrace, which hovers above the Brettach River on a steel structure, offering a high level of comfort, especially in the summer.