Café╱True From Café 2.0

餐廳╱初訪2.0

—

True From Café is located in an alley of Bade Road, Taipei city. The exterior of the Café is pure white in color with clean windows; however, around the corner of the Café, there is an old wooden door at the back that goes to True From 2.0.

This 26.4 square meter private space at the back of the Café was formerly an office space for chūxiàng Design until January 2021, when designer Tseng Kuo-Feng moved out. The space had no intended use and could be used as a grocery shop or private kitchen. Just in time, a chef needed a space to start a restaurant business, and True From Café also needed to add savory food to its menu, so the space began to have a primary purpose.

The space is designed from the perspective of a private kitchen, with no name or logo on the exterior and only a square window to reveal the light source, reflecting the restaurant's privacy.  The wooden door opens to reveal a small, warm and sedate interior with dim lighting. As opposed to the layout in the former office, many wood elements have been added to the ceiling, walls and flooring. The walls are composed of solid wood panels stained with darker colors, the ceiling is made of cut and assembled plywood, and engineered flooring is applied. The combination of various wooden elements and beige paint presents a Japanese aesthetic, but in fact the tables, chairs, windows and props add a touch of Taiwanese character and warmth to the room. As the kitchen appliances move in, the restaurant becomes more completed.

As the Designer Tseng has worked in the space for a while, the design of the windows is related to the direction of sunlight. A large window is retained above the main door, and the corridor to the left of the entrance also gets the light into the room with a semi-walled window. The corridor door is lit by watermarked glass, while the kitchen is lit by six iridescent windows that open up towards the corridor to bring in the light, making it bright and comfortable without turning on the lights during the day. At night, the bar is lit by low light to create a relaxed urban corner to enjoy food and drinks while chatting.  The centre island at the bar area is made of stainless steel with a concrete tile surface at the bottom, where the materials are used to mix the warm and cool tone of the space. We have used the shelves left over from before and added new hanging cabinets above to suit the needs.

"Don't you think it's cozy? Haha!" the designer laughs as the interview is about to end. In fact, when you come to this hidden and intriguing place, the space is warm without being crowded, with a shimmering light that takes the pressure away from you. It's worth a first visit after work, with food and atmosphere to soothe your stomach, making a perfect end to a busy day.