When light elevates flavour: Plusminus and Skan at Chica Cheesecake Café

Among the latest contract projects featuring Vibia is Chica Cheesecake Café—an emerging bakery concept with locations in Barcelona and the nearby city of Granollers. Founded by Eric and Yai, a couple brought together by a shared passion for design and gastronomy, the project stands out for its refined aesthetic and holistic approach to spatial experience.

Yai Novas, co-founder and interior designer, envisioned both locations as sensory journeys. “I placed special care on lighting to craft distinct atmospheres. Vibia’s luminaires offer the added value and design sensibility I seek in every project,” she explains.

Natural textures and earthy tones imbue the space with a warm, thoughtful ambience that places the visitor at the centre. It’s clear that the same care goes into the crafted desserts as into the welcoming mood that surrounds the moment of indulgence.

Light composes the emotional rhythm of the space, guided by a threefold intention: to encourage relaxation and enjoyment during tasting; to energise the rhythm of daily activity; and to invite social encounters in a setting that feels lighthearted and relaxed.

The Barcelona location is the newest addition, recently inaugurated. Its layout—divided into a service counter and a seating area—guided the lighting concept, centred on the Plusminus collection. Designed by Diez Office, Plusminus reimagines the light rail into a flexible and expressive system, offering tailored lighting solutions for each zone.

In the counter area—dedicated to customer interaction and conceived as a functional workspace—two Linear luminaires run along its full length. Their purpose: to preserve clarity and presence across the counter shadows and ensure an impeccable visual quality that enhances both the products and the experience.

Beyond an archway that frames the second ambience, a larger space unfolds beneath a traditional volta catalana ceiling—a tribute to the artisanal spirit of the café. Here, customers are invited to enjoy their desserts on tiered seating, softly backlit to create a playful mood. Overhead, a constellation of suspended spheres, varied in height and size, anchors the space in intimacy and delight.

A delicate textile ribbon adds a relaxed yet distinctive gesture to the lighting composition, gently embracing the setting and echoing the sweet, lingering pleasure of the moment.

Both locations follow a unified design language, with the Granollers café offering a more compact version. Sensuous archways and soft curves mirror the rounded counter, enveloping the space in warmth. The same earthy palette is echoed in the suspended Skan luminaire, selected in tonal harmony with the stools and finishes.

This elegant creation by Lievore Altherr Molina brings timeless poise. Arranged in a rhythm of three perfectly aligned pieces above the counter, Skan’s refined silhouette enhances the spatial sensitivity, weaving together clean forms into a cohesive, evocative composition.

Credits:
– Project by: Yai Novas Interior Design, Construhogar

Featured Products:
– Plusminus
– Skan