Tucked into the narrow ground floor of the flatiron corner building between Kearny and Columbus Streets in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood, the Reveille Coffee House carefully balances light and dark, round and sharp. A circular marble-topped counter in the middle of the space creates smooth movement patterns in the shop while contrasting the distinctively pointed footprint of the building. As light enters through the long rows of windows on either side of the space, it bounces off the space’s bright surfaces and onto the light wood, creating a gentle, warm glow throughout. Meanwhile, dark metal elements cut a bold profile against this light warmth; structural cross-bracing along the long sides of the space is finished in a matte black, as are the chairs, stools and counter surfaces.

Along the pavement outside, the street corner is transformed with a parklet, where a warm wood folds and climbs the gentle grade of the street’s hill, tying together the intimate vignettes of an outdoor seating area that looks out over San Francisco’s famed Transamerica Tower, framed by the unique patchwork architecture of the neighborhood.