Forward Coffee Introduction
The aesthetic style of the café shapes the urban streetscape, originally located around the lumberyard in Chiayi City, the blue café standing on the corner has moved to the adjacent Iron Factory at the end of 2021. Collaborating with the White Water Design team, they retained and deconstructed old elements while incorporating new aesthetics for reconstruction. Abandoning modular design thinking, they integrated natural raw materials, designer furniture, and artistic painted wall sculptures, creating a dialogue between old and new industrial styles across time, thus crafting a unique coffee streetscape in Chiayi. When talking about old houses in Chiayi, most people think of cypress wood houses. The Iron Factory Café, with its impressive structure, is making its debut with "Forward Café 2.0," which has drawn much attention since its opening. The owner, Mario, stated that when he returned to Chiayi in 2016 to start his business, he realized that cafés are crucial in shaping the streetscape of a city; therefore, the aesthetic style holds great importance. With the opportunity to plan the second shop, he placed even more emphasis on this aspect. The initial intent of moving into this abandoned Iron Factory, which had been empty for nearly 30 years, was for roasting, teaching, and exhibition purposes, but due to the impact of the pandemic, they decided to merge the café. What remains unchanged is that Forward Café 2.0 still insists on "only serving coffee and pastries." Photo source: Chiayi City Government Tourism News Office | Photographer: Marg.
