“I wanted to work with an interesting space,” explains Ram Stern as we meet to discuss his design for Sub-Station, the cafe that he and wife Orit recently opened in Alexandria. “We discovered that Sub-station No 152 was unoccupied and given it’s structure, detailing and character, it provided the perfect backdrop for the food and coffee on offer,” he adds.
![](https://cdn.habitusliving.com/wp-content/uploads/substation_3.jpg)
Having had a few previous lives, most of which did little to improve the space, the shell was completely gutted, save for the original sub-station details including external steel signage, a roller-shutter door and thick brick-face facades all round.
![](https://cdn.habitusliving.com/wp-content/uploads/substation_1.jpg)
“We didn’t want to alter the look and feel of the place too much,” says Stern, “but add to it in some way.” The pair also desired a “clean look”, an antidote to the oft-referenced “warehouse look”.
![](https://cdn.habitusliving.com/wp-content/uploads/substation_4.jpg)
They achieved the aesthetic by painting the walls white, incorporating a strong, geometric-tiled bar facade and a number of recycled timber fittings, including a one piece countertop that straddles the inside of the cafe and a small and unexpected courtyard adjacent. A recessed, fully openable server-style window connects the two spaces, bringing their compact, vertical garden and the smattering of outdoor table settings into the space.
![](https://cdn.habitusliving.com/wp-content/uploads/substation_2.jpg)
As expected there are also references to the original incarnation, including light fittings fashioned from reclaimed bed springs, a sliding library ladder – which accesses the loft storage room – a number of vintage posters and the generously high ceilings.
![](https://cdn.habitusliving.com/wp-content/uploads/substation_6.jpg)
And in keeping with the Sterns penchant for quirkiness, a geometric-tiled bar and a pumpkin permanently located on a stool just outside the entrance, add the finishing touches.