A Historic Space Reimagined for Matcha Culture
French design studio Ciguë has redefined a 19th-century NoHo storefront at 54 Bond Street as the flagship for 12 Matcha. The project spans two levels of the 1870s cast-iron façade, placing a sleek service bar and ordering area upstairs, while a secluded lounge and tasting room occupy the lower level. By preserving original Douglas fir floors and honoring the site’s past as a bank-turned-theatre, the design bridges Manhattan’s architectural legacy with a modern tea experience.
Material Palette Balancing Urban and Organic
The interiors merge urban grit with organic warmth. Walls coated in green-toned clay evoke the freshness of tea fields, while a dark green-enameled lava stone bar creates a striking focal point. Three oversized glass vessels filled with Japanese Binchotan charcoal bring the water-filtration process into view, transforming utility into a sculptural statement. Custom furniture features hand-applied green lacquer, brushed stainless steel shelving, and minimalist concrete finishes—reflecting matcha’s purity and meditative ritual.
Two Moods, One Immersive Experience
Ciguë divided the flagship into contrasting atmospheres: the upper floor is bright and open, while the lower level offers a more intimate, moody ambiance. Slatted window shades filter daylight to emulate Japanese tea-field light, guiding visitors down a walnut staircase to a glass-enclosed tasting lab. Here, an enamel-stone table anchors the space, framed by steel bar chairs and illuminated by a floating oval light fixture—blending precision, craft, and ceremony in every detail.
