Mahlzeit Snack Bar
In 1985, the Mahlzeit Snack Bar in Krefeld challenged conventional ideas of what a fast-food restaurant could be.
Instead of a rustic pub or a traditional takeaway, the design created a bright, almost weightless space. A deliberately restrained palette of white ceramic tiles, glass, stainless steel and solid timber defined the atmosphere. Large corner glazing brought the city into the dining area, while a sequence of small halogen lights guided visitors through the space.
The fully tiled serving counter is complemented by a glass display case. Behind it lies the openly visible kitchen, deliberately conceived as part of the customer area. The transition between service, dining and the street outside was not concealed but became an integral part of the architectural concept.
The prominent corner of the building received a fully glazed façade. At its centre stands a freestanding stainless-steel cylinder, structuring the space while carrying the illuminated “Mahlzeit” lettering to the outside as a defining architectural feature.
Solid timber provides a warm counterpoint to the white surfaces, giving the interior a welcoming atmosphere despite its uncompromising clarity.
The project received a Commendation at the German Interior Architecture Award in 1987. More remarkable than the award itself was the building type: the jury honoured not an exclusive restaurant but a modest snack bar. In doing so, they recognised the architectural quality of an everyday place and demonstrated that outstanding interior architecture is not determined by the size or budget of a project.
More than forty years later, the interior still looks almost exactly as it did when it opened. For me, a current photograph of today’s Partyservice Günther is perhaps the greatest compliment an interior architect can receive.
Project Details
- Project: Mahlzeit Snack Bar
- Scope: Hospitality
- Location: Krefeld
- Year: 1985
- Award: Commendation, German Interior Architecture Award 1987
Anyone who only ever does what everyone else is doing will ultimately end up looking like the same old uniformity.
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Email: k.buerger@k-buerger.de