Complete interior and exterior redesign of Café Mulino in Langnau, transforming a functional but dated basement café into a warm, Mediterranean-inspired neighbourhood bar with clear identity.

Scope of works:

Interior and exterior seating concept
Lighting plan
Custom carpentry design (wall shelves & continuous bench)
Furniture sourcing & specification
Branding integration
Contractor briefing & coordination

Location:

Langnau, Switzerland

Budget:

CHF 13k (excl. contractor labour)

Duration:

6–8 weeks (Opening: 1 June 2025)

Before

Located in the basement of a residential building near the station, the café had strong potential but lacked atmosphere and identity.

Key challenges:
– Dominant bar with limited seating flexibility
– Exposed ceiling pipes creating a cold, technical feel
– Outdated lighting
– Hard surfaces causing acoustic challenges
– Concrete-heavy outdoor area exposed to weather
– No defined visual brand language

Inspiration

The name “Mulino” – mill – became the conceptual anchor.
The design draws from Mediterranean landscapes and Italian café culture: olive trees, natural greens, warm wood, woven textures and earthy tones.
The aim was to introduce warmth and identity into a technically challenging basement space – without becoming overly thematic.

Renovation

The strategy focused on achieving maximum impact with minimal structural intervention.
The existing bar was elevated through repainting, refinishing of the wooden top, and the addition of custom oak shelving with integrated lighting and mirror.
Ceiling pipes were painted white, and a layered lighting concept introduced flexibility between daytime café use and evening atmosphere.
A continuous oak bench increases seating capacity and improves flow. Outdoors, weather-resistant furniture, parasols and olive trees extend the café experience.

After

Café Mulino is now a warm, recognisable neighbourhood café-bar with Mediterranean soul.
The once dark basement space feels brighter and layered. Wood elements add warmth, greenery softens the architecture, and flexible lighting supports both daily coffee culture and evening aperitivo.
The café now has a clear identity –functional, atmospheric and economically considered.