Friday Photos
Bay View Alterra is Open for Business
Alterra's new Bay View location is a creatively cozy addition to Milwaukee.
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Alterra’s newest cafe opened in Bay View today. The new building, which was designed by Chris Socha, Project Architect The Kubala Washatko Architects, Inc., is broken into a number of small comfortable spaces to gather within and enjoy a good cup of coffee. Outdoor seating wraps around two sides of the building creating an outdoor living room which connects the interior of the building to the street. And green features including storm water collection, rain gardens, recycled materials, an integrated bus stop, and vertical bike racks complete the cafe.
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Categories: Friday Photos
Ha, my parents are in this photo. That’s my dad, watching you take their photo (dark glasses).
These guys are are almost as good as Apple with design and atmosphere. They avoid the cookie cutter store and fit into whatever environment they build in. I’m sitting here on the upper east-side thinking about climbing on my moped and going down there to get some coffee. I’d have to go past no less than three of their stores to get to this one, so I’ll probably wait until next week. Great shots Dave.
There is so much to love about the design of this place, I don’t even know where to begin. Urban MKE readers will no doubt swoon over the pedestrian and bike amenities, but my personal favorites include the extensive use of salvage and the stormwater management system.
Of course, the viewable bakery is also a tremendous element, and by viewable, I mean you can practically reach out and touch your baker since there is no separating glass between the cafe and production areas. I asked the architect about whether it was difficult to get that past health code and he said “no”. Apparently the room is pressurized to ensure prevailing air circulation pumps outward – adding that fresh baked smell as a bonus for coffee drinkers. They have an integral pest management system too. He said their biggest fears included the thought that some strong armed kid could randomly chuck a peanut into a mixing bowl and set off a catastrophic allergic reaction in some customer. What a delight to learn of all the thoughtful nuance in such decisions.
Alterra was recently quoted as saying that they tend to “over-invest” in buildings. I prefer to think of it as a deep commitment to defining cultural icons for Milwaukee. Bravo on the latest addition.