HBL Kids Lifestyle: Tokyo Baby Cafe by Nendo

Tuesday 5 October 2010

The Tokyo Baby Cafe is located in the up market Omotesando area of Tokyo and is described as a parent and child cafe. Designed by Japanese designer Nendo, the cafe is a place where adults can a spend time with their children and socialise with friends without worrying about those around them.


Once through the playhouse shaped entrance you are led down a staircase into a minimal modern day Alice in Wonderland set.  There is a gigantic sofa which acts as an enclosed  play area, a central cafe area, and, for those wanting privacy, a separate dining room is available, which comes complete with a big brother style CCTV screen built into the wall so parents can keep a close eye on their children.


The interior plays with scale and perspective; using the difference in size between the adults and children to create a whimsical interior.

Nendo explains, "You can see the world through two different users. Adults live their lives aware of tabletops, and the things placed on top of them. But children see the table's underside. A table's legs can look like pillars, and the reverse of the tabletop is like a roof". The cafe's 'absolutely huge' and 'absolutely tiny' furnishings take advantage of these two perspectives.