How did this place come about and what made it different from the start?
Our café concept was selected for the re-opening of the Otto Wagner Postsparkasse. They were looking for innovative concepts to feed Angewandte students, distinguished academics, and visitors from around the world.
Cafe Exchange is uniquely located in a world heritage architectural site. We intentionally avoided the clichés of formal, institutional dining to meet the broad range of people inhabiting the space and facilitate moments of exchange between them.
What part of the day, space, or creative process do those who work here enjoy the most?
On one hand, we get to interact with a diverse group of people: students, teachers, tourists, Vienna residents, architecture enthusiasts, former staff of the Postsparkasse, and people from nearby offices. This makes for great exchanges, laughs, and connections.
On the other hand, we are a tight-knit group deciding nearly everything together, testing new dishes and pastries, brainstorming new specials, and constantly evolving the café.
If someone is coming in for the first time, what should they not miss?
Just entering the building, you will be in awe. It is so spacious. A real gem in Austria’s architectural catalogue. We have an ever-changing and delicious lunch menu, handmade seasonal patisserie, and coffee specialties from local roasters.
What has been an interesting challenge that has made you rethink something about the project?
Music has been a large part of our identity as a café. We often play upbeat, left-field, and vintage global sounds to celebrate and reflect the diversity of our clientele. While our music program has been a catalyst in developing our community, the parabolic glass roof of the PSK atrium is actually quite terrible for acoustics. There were also many patrons who preferred more space for conversations. Working with our partners at the Angewandte Interdisciplinary Lab, we’ve found ways both to accommodate our musical identity and to create spaces of calm for those interested in working and collaborating.
What influence, idea, or reference continues to shape the way you work today?
The café is like a ship. It takes all crew members working together to make for smooth sailing.
What place, project, or person has inspired you recently and why?
We are always inspired by global thinking. In particular, Southeast Asian cuisine inspires a lot of our vegetarian and vegan dishes. Our coffee roasters, Erika & Prem, scour the globe for delicious, interesting, and ethically sourced specialty coffees. Our patisserie is inspired by modern pastry trends while honoring heritage and high-quality ingredients.
If your space could invite someone to collaborate for a day, who would it be and what would you do together?
We love collaborating with different artists, musicians, event organisers, and innovative people with great ideas. Personally, I would love to hang out with Pharrell Williams and show off the café. I think the space would lend itself very well to both a concert and a fashion show. We would do the catering. Apart from that, we love collaborating with artists from different media backgrounds.
Is there an object, corner, or detail of the place that has a story that few people know?
The Otto Wagner Postsparkasse is a massive building that often showcases exhibitions. The kitchen collects food-related stickers, and behind the bar we collect funny misspellings of the café’s name.
If this project were a city, a book, or a record, which would it be and why?
The Café Exchange is like Vienna. We have a beautiful traditional structure in which we offer new creative ways to get together, eat, and drink.
If Cafe Exchange were a book, it would be The Baron in the Trees. Like the young Baron, we are stubborn and bold, rooted in European history and traditions, but also deeply romantic, adventurous, and anxious to explore.
If Cafe Exchange were a record, we would be Thai Beat A Go-Go Vol. 2, a compilation of fun, funky rock & roll and beat music emerging at the cultural crossroads between East and West.
Answers by Alexander Afrough, owner of Café Exchange.
