In Cluj-Napoca, Romania, the Széki Palace’s former pharmacy has reopened as Laboratorium, a café that mixes historic detail with modern design. EktraArhitectura and Fain Design led the transformation, keeping the 1893 Neo-Gothic interior almost intact while adding just a few bold new pieces.

Original vaulted ceilings, pointed arches, and hand-carved wooden cabinets by B. Bak Lajos still define the room. Heritage specialists restored the cabinetry, allowing its rhythmic pattern to guide the layout. New elements—two curved stainless-steel coffee counters and a red-lacquer window bench—stand out without copying the past.

Lighting is tucked into crevices and behind beams, highlighting depth rather than drawing attention to itself. The red bench invites guests to linger beneath tall windows, adding a splash of contemporary color amid the dark timber. Designers say the goal was to treat the space as a living interior, letting daily café life keep architectural memory alive.