In March 2025 arki_lab was entrusted with responsibility to develop Café Sonja's physical setting for the benefit of both staff and guests. The main focus has been to rethink the café’s existing layout and spatial organization in order to create a more efficient workflow for staff, while also enabling greater flexibility for events, local gatherings and a more effective use of space for guests.

Café Sonja is located in Saxogade – a street that is unique in the world for being entirely composed of social enterprises operated by the social NGO Settlementet Vesterbro since 1986. Their mission is to foster a respectful work community in the street, aiming to help people re-enter the workforce. Cafe Sonja serves as a central meeting point and gathering space in the street.

Frontend and Backend  
In our design we have worked with a spatial concept based on a “frontend” / “backend” principle. In the frontend, the bar and seating areas are moved closer to the street, strengthening the café’s connection to Saxogade and creating a more open and welcoming atmosphere. Four existing street-facing rooms are consolidated into two larger, flexible spaces that accommodate both everyday café life and larger gatherings, while a new event room supports community activities such as readings, concerts, and workshops. The bar is repositioned towards the entrance, improving access for to-go guests and creating a better guest flow.

In parallel, the backend has been reorganized to provide more coherent and efficient workflows for food preparation, storage, and staff facilities. New changing facilities, lockers, and a staff toilet improve working conditions, while the relocation of the existing toilet makes room for a larger hot kitchen with direct access to the backyard and storage areas. Together, these interventions enhance both the guest experience and the café’s daily operations.

Click here to read about arki_lab's redesign of Saxogade