#10 Truth Coffee, Cape Town, South Africa

Promising great coffee and a stylish, steampunk interior, Truth Coffee HQ in Cape Town already has a number of awards to its name, only to add another.

The cafe design is by Haldane Martin, who was approached by Truth Coffee back in 2011 to take control of the 1500sq m interior.

At three stories there's a lot to work with, but Haldane Martin has managed to incorporate a number of different materials in a cohesive fashion to create the final 'Steampunk' effect - a term the practice coined.

'Our brainchild for the venue's concept came after identifying the similarities between coffee roasters and espresso machines and the steampunk aesthetic, both displaying elements of romantic, steam-powered technology in a retro-futuristic way,' said Haldane Martin.

The space is dominated by a huge vintage roaster which has been surrounded with a 6m circular steel shelving structure. Leather, steel and polished wood materials are used around the space and balanced. Some of Truth's standout features include a leather-topped bar clad in pressed tin ceiling panels situated in front of the roaster.

A communal 7.2m-long table - the longest in Cape Town - provides an inviting space for patrons with swing-out stools and a table top made from Oregon pine reclaimed from the ceilings.

It is no surprise that this project put Haldane Martin on the map - it being its first commercial interior design project - for the practice specifically-designed all of the furniture bar the authentic vintage fixtures.

What do we love about it? The practice has managed to retain the building's natural patina and complemented it with raw steel, timber, brass and copper finishes.

Not to mention the crafty designs of the jagged steel tables that can be joined together like a jigsaw puzzle.

Photos by Micky Hoyle