After completing my coffee house course, Mark – a keen cyclist and expert barista – approached me to design the Isle of Man’s first combined cafe-bikeshop and events space, Cycle 360, I was eager to embark on this exciting project.

The Brief

Cycle 360 aimed to create a unique blend of a coffee shop, a bike shop, and an event space, all housed within a bespoke two-story building. My designs were to allow equipment contractors to fit out a kitchen, and for their main architects to construct the cafe area.

Key Design Considerations

1. Pricing.
   The drawings provided needed to be issued to potential building contractors, to allow for the preparation of accurate cost estimates.
2. Equipment.
   The equipment layout and the corresponding legends that were provided ensured that all counters were built to sufficient depths and heights, to allow for their installation. As this was a series of proposed drawings, any voids under the counter allowed for changes in equipment width during the procurement process. The drawings also future proofed the counter and kitchen areas, allowing for potential changes in the food operation at a later stage, as the cafe grew.
3. Building Control approval.
   My plans included the necessary mechanical and electrical information required for full building control approval.

Subject to the above considerations, I was able to produce detailed proposed layouts of the following:

1. Cafe Counter Plan
   This drawing outlined the layout of the +15 metre counter space, including the location of coffee machines, grinders, tills, and other essential equipment and storage.
2. Cafe Front and Rear Elevations
   These were intended to provided a visual representation of the counter’s height, depth, and the placement of shelves, cupboards, and equipment.
3. Detailed Working Kitchen Plan
   These included details of a cook line, the dish wash area, refrigerated and dry storage areas, and mandatory areas, such as a secure chemical cleaning cupboard.
4. Raised Floor Plan
   To accommodate the complex network of electrical, plumbing, and data cables, a raised floor system was designed, ensuring easy access for maintenance and future upgrades.

The result
The now named Cafe 360 is a substantial area, comprised of counters in excess of 8m, and a large, fully operational kitchen. This purpose-built 5,000sqft building across two floors and located in the accessible Isle of Man Business Park attracts an average of 500 people a day visiting its café and bikeshop offering.