Coffee to swim | Christina Post

Coffee to Swim©

THE FLOATING COFFEE SHOP ON THE ALSTER LAKE IN HAMBURG.

The project Coffee to swim© represents an innovative evolution of the ubiquitous „coffee to go“ concept, presenting itself as a floating coffee shop on the Hamburg Alster Lake that operates on a maritime drive-through principle. To capture today’s zeitgeist, this concept combines the increasing relevance of water architecture with the pronounced leisure behavior of people in major cities. Water has always been a central factor in the history of human settlement and is becoming increasingly important in contemporary architecture due to ecological changes. Hamburg, often referred to as the Venice of the North, offers the ideal location for this endeavor with the Alster as a traditional and vibrant leisure area. Since the gastronomy along the banks is highly frequented and boaters express great interest in a service station directly on the water, the idea of „to go“ transforms here into a special „to swim“ experience.

The floating coffee shop is accessible exclusively by boat and blends seamlessly into the landscape as an autonomous, aesthetically sophisticated design object. To avoid permanently impairing nature and the familiar scenery of the Alster, the artificial island does not have its own motor. Instead, it is towed into position by a cargo ship, secured to the bottom of the Alster with four anchor chains, and operates only during the day, depending on the season and weather. After closing, the mobile station is brought to the shore and ideally stored safely in a water-based carport.

Architecturally, the design is heavily inspired by organic elements from nature, with the cloverleaf serving as the foundational shape, making the final object reminiscent of a water plant resting in the water. The asymmetrical roof structure is equipped with striking wooden slats that direct light into the interior, creating a fascinating play of shadows on the water and within the space. A special architectural trick is that the wooden structure visually ends directly at the water’s surface, appearing to merge into a complete form through its reflection in the water. At the same time, the hull of the shop lies deep enough in the water that the floor for the employees is located below the water level. This enables communication and service for customers sitting in their boats at direct eye level. With three specially designed docking stations for sailboats, rowboats, and pedal boats—including covered drive-through areas for smaller boats—Coffee to swim© offers visitors an intensive and completely novel spatial experience right in the middle of the Hamburg Alster Lake.