Narcissus

Authors’ Comment

Narcissus is a hybrid space.
It can function as a café, a concept store, or a small venue for workshops and cultural events. Its strong identity is shaped not only by its design but also by its location—on Sfântul Ioan Street in Brașov, in a historically charged urban context.
Nearby stands the Franciscan Roman Catholic Church, whose lateral wall—a bare party wall—has, in recent years, become a backdrop for urban art interventions. This very tension between Baroque heritage and contemporary artistic expression inspired the design concept.
The central theme is reflection—both in its literal sense and as a metaphor for the relationship between space and context. The name draws from Caravaggio’s Narcissus painting—not as an act of self-admiration, but as an expression of sincere fascination with one’s own reflection in the surrounding world.
The intervention preserves and highlights the old masonry, which is exposed and restored. Between the arches, glossy metallic insertions capture fragmented reflections of the surroundings. The solid wood floor follows an irregular outline, inspired by the formal freedom and elegance of the Baroque, yet the overall composition remains controlled and balanced—echoing the simplicity of Franciscan architecture.
The materials—mirrors, metal, glass, microcement—generate a subtle interplay of reflections. Furnishing is kept to a minimum: a single central table surrounded by eight wooden chairs and one distinctive metal chair—a symbolic gesture that invites interpretation.
The space is conceived as a place for exchange and connection—both casual and cultural. The focus is not on function, but on dialogue: with the site, with the past, and with the people who inhabit it.
At its core, Narcissus is not merely a space for consumption, but one of contemplation—of context, history, and the relationship between people and the city. It is an example of a discreet yet profound intervention, one that does not seek to dominate, but rather to listen and respond. And that is what allows the space to remain relevant and alive over time.