Client
YMCA
Location
Cardiff, South Wales
Project Value
£22,000
Year
2024
YMCA – Café 180
Changing client base at the YMCA Cardiff means changing behaviour and changing needs, becoming a more inclusive, everyday open safe space for clients, users, staff and visitors. The old café space was an underused and uninspiring space, tired, cold and uninviting with no sense of place in the ethos of the YMCA and all it stands for and offers. As the new ‘Adref’ accommodation block was under construction across the outdoor space from the café, it was crucial to empathetically connect the two parts of the buildings with purpose and functionality. The café had a new role to play.
Soft rip-out, light touch design
ASR undertook a soft rip-out, a light touch reconstruction, with a small budget, a micro team and a few short weeks to complete the project. You know when funding is stretched, you’re up against a tight deadline and you’re borrowing your skilled team members from the main onsite build project ‘Adref’ when you enlist the hands-on help from the client. This was when staff in the YMCA, in the eleventh hour to the opening launch, rolled up their sleeves and helped out proving how important this space was and how passionate YMCA Cardiff were about the next chapter in their incredible history – a perfect partnership and collaborative relationship.
A hotel, a home, a haven
Under the watchful design eye and the hands-on curatorial direction of designer Angela Gidden working closely with YMCA Cardiff Director of Income Generation Jade Morgan, and furniture dealer Momentum Cardiff, the space evolved quickly and effectively. The vision was swiftly realised creating an impactful transformation that feels like a smart hotel lobby – but to most, feels like ‘home’.
The design detail - improving, inspiring, inviting
The most important aspect of the projects criteria was to improve all aspects of the space to become an inclusive and diverse space for all. The colour palette gave a more current and sophisticated look accented with pops of earthy yellows and playful soft pinks for accessories with acoustic slatted panels in walnut and oak.
The furniture was selected by Angela Gidden from Momentum Cardiff’s warehouse clearance which worked with the budget, adopted a more sustainable approach to furniture procurement and fundamentally gave the space the smart, hotel lobby vibe which exceeded all expectations. The scheme delighted and delivered on many levels – a community space, a multi-purpose place for dining, for collaboration, creativity, debates, deliberations, activities, or simply a sense of place and peace.
The new café was opened to mark the YMCA’s celebration of 180 years since George Williams founded the organisation. As a celebration of this historic event what do the YMCA Cardiff call this new space, this new destination for a new chapter – they proudly call it Café 180.
