The concept for the interior of Ma•Velous was inspired by café’s the location, right in San Francisco’s Civic Center, in the heart of the city.  The area is not only home to the city’s and state’s government buildings, it is also rich in culture.  The War Memorial Opera House, the San Francisco Ballet, Davies Symphony Hall, the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, and the San Francisco Arts Commission are minutes away.  The San Francisco Public Library, Asian Art Museum, the Art Institute and Orpheum Theater are within two blocks, and the Golden Gate Theater and the Warfield within walking distance.  This proximity to the arts inspired the overall design of MA•Velous. 

The eco-conscious design celebrates the local arts through its design and the involvement of a number of local artists in the design of the space.  In an aim to create an elegant space with sustainability in mind we based our palette on the rich colors of coffee, which range from the green fruit maturing into a golden yellow and then into a bright red, and a dark espresso once the beans have been roasted.  The long and narrow room was divided into a Syphon bar, a small library section, café seating, and a small lounge area. 

We retained the original tall wood wainscot, stained it with an eco finish in a dark espresso, and matched the wood partitions to the wainscot, topped with clear orange Lucite panels, which were laser-cut in a design representing movement.  The library’s bookcase was designed by Adeeni Design Group in a seemingly haphazard pattern of rectangles, and the banquettes are filled with soy-based foam and covered in faux red crocodile.  The tables with walnut tops from a single fallen California walnut tree are paired with red acrylic and aluminum chairs.  In the spirit of repurposing vintage pieces a mid-century sofa and a couple of vintage barber chairs invite guests into the lounge, an All Steel credenza serves as the condiment station, and all light fixtures and the bathroom mirror were made from alls sorts of cast-off materials.  Eco floor tiles were installed with eco grout, and paints are all low VOC.  The custom benches outside are made from recycled aluminum. 

The pièce de résistance is a commissioned painting by cutting-edge street artist Eddie Colla that spans the entire length of the restaurant.  Much attention was paid to creating a green design that is both timeless and chic and celebrates local creative talent.