25/12/2025
As the year comes to a close, we’ve been looking back at the moments and projects that stayed with us. One, in particular, stands out—not because it was the biggest, but because it meant the most.
Alostro Coffee Club became our favourite project of the year.
What made this project especially personal is that it began as a concept by our Director, Mlondolozi Hempe, marking the start of a new journey into hospitality. It was an opportunity to bring together years of designing thoughtful spaces with a growing passion for crafting meaningful, everyday experiences.
Located at The MARC Retail Centre in Sandton, Johannesburg, Alostro sits within one of the city’s most established mixed-use precincts—known for its curated retail and dining offering, premium offices, and steady daily footfall. The MARC’s role as a meeting point for business, lifestyle, and urban movement made it a fitting setting for a space designed around pause, connection, and return.
From the first ideas to opening day, Alostro was shaped by a simple question: how should a space make people feel? Every detail—layout, materials, light, and flow—was considered through the lens of comfort, connection, and return.
This project reminded us that design is not only about what you see, but about what you experience over time. It reinforced why we do this work: to create spaces that feel honest, welcoming, and deeply human.
We’re grateful to everyone who trusted the vision and shared in the journey. This project marks not an end, but a beginning.
📸
