Laser cutters and coffee, together at last. As DIY culture evolves into DIWO (Do It With Others, more commonly referred to as creative coworking) there is an increasing demand for places to connect and create, and of course, re-caffeinate. Shibuya’s stylish new FabCafe, designed by Naruse-Inokuma Architects, provides just that. The double entendre ‘Fab’ refers to both the playful environment that is ‘fabulous’ and focused on ‘fabrication’. Satisfying both tastebuds and tech-savvy tastemakers, they provide artisan coffees and treats alongside a laser cutter you can rent. Simply bring your Adobe Illustrator files into the cafe and the laser cutter will then realize them in paper, felt, acrylic, wood and other materials. It’s not free to use, but at 2 000 yen ($25 CAD) if you share it with up to 3 people for 30 minutes or 5 000 yen ($63 CAD) if you want it to yourself, it’s fair. FabCafe is operated by Loftwork, a digital media production company that seeks to collaborate with a network of designers. Proving to be a rapid success, betahaus in Berlin has already opened their own twist on a FabCafe—complete with 3D printer—and we expect to see more satellite locations popping up soon.
1-22-7 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo