The Mills Fabrica, an innovation platform for purpose-driven startups, opened a new coffee shop on February 3rd 2025.

Fabrica X, The Mills Fabrica’s innovation gallery and retail space, sits alongside this new social spot, creating a thriving innovation hub for members, visitors and passersby to enjoy.

The new space is designed by Andre Sampaio Kong of Andre Kong Studio and fabricated by Kava Surfaces, a Brighton-based design studio passionate about sustainability, who creates tactile architectural surfaces from coffee waste.

In an area dominated by chain coffee shops, The Mills Fabrica hopes to provide an independently spirited alternative where thoughtful design meets artisan coffee, provided by B Corp certified company, Ozone Coffee, who were winners of ‘Most Sustainable Brand’ in the European Coffee & Hospitality Awards 2024. The Snapery Bakery, who make their bread and pastries with Wildfarmed’s regeneratively farmed flour, are supplying the baked goods.

When considering the materials best suited to the design, Kong identified Kava Surfaces, who repurpose coffee waste into a range of bespoke surfaces that could be utilised for the coffee shop’s counters and furniture. Tactile, warm and circular, the use of coffee grounds, which is a side stream waste product, perfectly mirrors the story behind many of the innovations that are platformed via The Mills Fabrica’s own exhibitions and investment portfolio.

“Fabrica X is a vibrant hub dedicated to material innovation, sustainability and storytelling. When designing its coffee shop, it was essential that these values be seamlessly integrated into the space, creating an experience as innovative as the showroom it inhabits.” Commented Andre Kong. “The Fabrica X coffee shop isn’t just a place to enjoy coffee; it’s a celebration of circular design, flexibility and the stories materials have to tell.”

The design rises to meet the dynamic nature of Fabrica X’s continually revolving events programme with the creation of a mechanism inspired by a bicycle chain. The bar is made from four overlapping modules that pivot on joints to form a chain. The connecting segments create different configurations suited to various uses—from daytime coffee service to a lively evening event bar. Sliding tambour screens enhance this versatility.

The coffee shop hopes to become a regular meeting place for like-minded people living in and around, or simply passing through, the King’s Cross area – offering a space for lively, thought-provoking conversations and discoveries.

“When curating the coffee shop, we wanted to appoint a designer whose values align with The Mills Fabrica and is committed to creating beautiful work sustainably. Andre Kong has collaborated with us in the past on certain projects, such as installations for exhibitions in Fabrica X and is someone we trust to bring our vision to life.

With the fabrication of the coffee shop, we wanted it to tell an authentic story – what better way to do that than with Kava and their handmade surfaces from coffee waste? For the suppliers, we wanted to invite companies to join us on our journey and mission of being a truly planet-positive coffee shop. Starting with Ozone Coffee and The Snapery, we hope to add more to the roster and deliver delicious coffee and food for all visitors whilst minimising harm to our planet.” – Amy Tsang, Head of Europe, The Mills Fabrica.

About The Mills Fabrica: The Mills Fabrica is a global innovation ecosystem dedicated to accelerating sustainable and social impact start-ups within the Agrifood and Techstyle sectors through; a VC fund, co-working space, strategic partnerships, industry events and an innovation gallery and concept store.

Launched in Hong Kong in December 2018, The Mills is a landmark revitalisation project by Nan Fung Group, transforming their old textile factories into a new heritage, experiential retail and innovation centre. With the opening of the London division at King’s Cross in 2020, the platform provides a funding bridge between East and West and cultivates an environment for cross sector collaboration across the Agrifood and Techstyle industries.

Category:EnvironmentsAward Year:2025Location: London, United KingdomArchitects:Andre Kong Studios, London, United KingdomLead Designer:Andre KongMaterials:Jani Lemut, In-Build and KAVA Surfaces, Lewes, East Sussex, United KingdomClient:The Mills Fabrica, 36-40 York Way, King’s Cross, London, United KingdomPhotographers:Monwar Hussain