IM Café in Madrid, located on Calle de Gabriel Lobo, was designed by Nula Studio for Inma Manresa’s branding agency, IM Signature. The project balances a quiet, restrained main area with a bold red office space. The brief called for one room that could host exhibitions, brand activations, and cultural events without talking over any of them. A café for the neighborhood was part of the deal too.
The main space emphasizes restraint through its minimalist design. Sprayed acoustic finishes cover walls and ceiling, with every corner curved to create a seamless and cohesive environment. Ceramic brick in herringbone pattern, Campaspero stone, and compact limestone aggregate create texture in a pale, warm palette. A custom acrylic glass table, assembled on site with neodymium magnets, sits at the center of the room. A height-adjustable pendant by Nanómetro Estudio allows the room to adapt to different uses, enhancing its versatility.
The kitchen, storage, and building services are housed in high-gloss lacquered volumes, which stand in stark contrast to the surrounding minimalist elements. Their shine contrasts against the soft, matte plaster walls, creating a deliberate interruption of the restraint. The office, used for storage and a second workspace, is a monochrome red volume reflecting IM Signature’s brand color. Walls, joinery, shelving, library ladder, and floor are all red, with red-and-white striped tiles behind the sink and linen curtains that add a softer touch to the bold color scheme.
From the street, the façade appears as a continuous wall of large-format stone panels over two meters tall, with the door flush within it, creating a seamless exterior appearance. When open, a covered porch buffers the busy street, featuring a glazed ceramic counter by artist Xavier Mañosa of Apparatu. Coffee is served through a guillotine window with a pulley and counterweight system made from lead and fired clay by Volupte Studio, showcasing innovative design elements. Inside, a large window opens onto a planted, south-facing courtyard above a cantilevered Campaspero stone bench, providing a natural and inviting space for outdoor seating.
The site was once Bar Deportivo, and the café gives the street back a place to meet. Nula Studio calls the project an exercise in restraint. The red office makes clear that restraint was a choice.
