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Layer 28 Cafe, George Town Penang — Awarded Cafe Interior Design & Renovation

Project: Layer 28 Cafe
Location: Heritage Area, George Town, Penang
Project Type: Commercial / F&B Interior Design & Renovation
Design Concept: Modern Classic Cafe
Project Recognition: Awarded Commercial Cafe Project
Carpentry Finish: Lamitak HPL Laminates
Key Features: Custom 360° French-Style Swivel Door, Brass-Gold Cake Display, Wavy Fabric Artistic Ceiling Feature & Warm Ambient Lighting

Project Overview

Located within the heritage area of George Town, Penang, Layer 28 Cafe is one of Lambert Design & Build's awarded commercial café projects.

The project began with an empty and abandoned interior, presenting an opportunity to completely reimagine the space as a distinctive F&B environment.

Lambert Design & Build transformed the premises into a modern classic cafe, combining elegant architectural detailing with contemporary commercial functionality.

The renovation involved hacking and dismantling works, plumbing, electrical wiring, ceiling works, air-conditioning, floor re-tiling, toilet refurbishment and custom-made carpentry furniture.

Beyond completing the necessary renovation works, the objective was to give Layer 28 its own memorable identity.

The completed café combines a bright classic-inspired entrance with a warmer and more atmospheric interior, characterised by brass-gold accents, warm lighting, customised furniture and a dramatic wavy fabric ceiling installation.

From an Abandoned Space to a Modern Cafe

One of the most significant aspects of Layer 28 was the transformation itself.

The original premises were essentially an empty, abandoned room. Creating a functioning café therefore required more than adding furniture and decoration.

The space needed to be rebuilt around the practical requirements of an operating F&B environment while simultaneously establishing a recognisable customer-facing identity.

Our works covered the essential building services and finishes—from plumbing, electrical wiring and air-conditioning to flooring, ceiling works and toilet refurbishment—before integrating the custom interior elements that define Layer 28 today.

This allowed the commercial space to be developed as a coordinated interior rather than as a collection of individual decorative features.

Modern Classic Cafe Interior Concept

The design direction for Layer 28 can be described as modern classic.

Instead of reproducing a traditional classical interior, we introduced recognisable classic details within a cleaner contemporary setting.

At the entrance, white wall treatments, decorative mouldings and the distinctive double-door feature establish an elegant first impression.

Inside, the atmosphere becomes warmer and more intimate.

The palette combines white and neutral surfaces, dark contrasting elements, warm brown seating and brass-gold accents, supported by warm lighting throughout the café.

The contrast between classic detailing and contemporary simplicity gives Layer 28 its individual character.

Custom 360° French-Style Swivel Entrance Door

One of the project's signature features is the custom-made 360-degree French-style swivel door.

Rather than using a conventional commercial entrance, the doorway was designed as a visual statement.

Its white classic-inspired profile, rounded glazing and brass-gold handles introduce the café's design language before customers even enter the main dining space.

The curved form above the doorway carries the Layer 28 identity, further integrating the entrance architecture with the café branding.

This feature became an important transition between the heritage streetscape outside and the contemporary café experience inside.

Brass-Gold Cake Display Feature

Another highlight is the custom brass-gold finish cake display rack positioned near the front of the café.

The display transforms the cakes into part of the visual presentation of the interior rather than treating them only as merchandise.

Its fine metallic framework complements the brass and gold details used elsewhere in the project and creates an attractive display against the natural daylight at the storefront.

This combination of commercial display and interior design helps establish Layer 28's identity from the street.

Custom Cafe Counter & Carpentry

Custom-made carpentry plays an important role throughout Layer 28.

Lamitak HPL laminates were used for the custom carpentry furniture, allowing the built elements to maintain a consistent finish within the overall design direction.

The main service counter was developed as both a functional working area and a central visual element.

Behind it, the geometric display shelving creates a recognisable backdrop for Layer 28's branded cups, while integrated lighting helps visually separate the counter from the surrounding interior.

The objective was to make operational furniture feel like part of the café's identity rather than purely back-of-house equipment.

Wavy Fabric Artistic Ceiling Feature

Perhaps the most unusual visual element inside Layer 28 is the wavy fabric artistic ceiling installation.

Instead of relying solely on a conventional enclosed ceiling treatment, layers of softly gathered fabric create movement across the upper portion of the café.

Warm illumination around the installation emphasises the folds and produces changing areas of light and shadow.

This creates a strong contrast with the darker exposed structural elements surrounding it.

The feature adds softness to the commercial environment and gives customers something unexpected to discover when looking upward.

It also provides Layer 28 with a distinctive interior feature that is highly recognisable in photographs.

Warm Lighting & Relaxing Cafe Atmosphere

Lighting was particularly important in establishing the atmosphere of Layer 28.

Rather than making the entire interior uniformly bright, the café uses warm, layered illumination to create a more relaxed environment.

Pendant lights provide focused illumination above the long seating counters, while concealed lighting highlights selected architectural and carpentry features.

Warm lighting is also incorporated around the counter and wavy ceiling installation.

Together with the brown seating, brass-gold accents and neutral interior palette, this creates a café environment intended to feel comfortable, relaxed and refined.

Seating & Customer Experience

The narrow proportions of the premises required the customer seating to work efficiently without visually overcrowding the café.

Long counter-style seating runs along the sides of the interior, leaving a clear central circulation route between the entrance and service counter.

Warm brown upholstered high chairs with slim metallic frames provide contrast against the lighter wall surfaces.

Near the front of the café, additional bench seating creates a different type of customer setting.

This mixture allows the interior to accommodate customers while maintaining an open visual connection through the relatively elongated commercial space.

Decorative Planting & Soft Interior Elements

Soft decorative planting was incorporated throughout the café to balance the harder surfaces of the commercial interior.

The dried ornamental grasses introduce natural texture and movement, particularly around the seating zones and entrance.

Their soft neutral tones also complement the warm brown seating, white surfaces and brass-gold accents.

Together with the fabric ceiling feature, these softer elements prevent the modern-classic environment from becoming overly formal.

Electrical, Plumbing & Air-Conditioning Works

Transforming the original premises into an operational café required substantial technical works behind the finished design.

Lambert Design & Build's scope included electrical wiring, plumbing and air-conditioning works.

These services had to be coordinated with the café layout, lighting requirements, counter area and other interior features.

Although these elements are less visible after completion, they form an essential part of converting an empty commercial space into a functional F&B environment.

Floor Re-Tiling & Toilet Refurbishment

The renovation also included floor re-tiling and toilet refurbishment.

These works allowed the existing premises to be refreshed as part of the overall transformation rather than leaving older finishes disconnected from the newly designed café.

The result is a more complete commercial renovation where both customer-facing areas and supporting facilities were considered within the project scope.

Project Challenge

The primary challenge was transforming an empty, abandoned premises in George Town's heritage environment into a distinctive modern café.

The project needed to address two objectives simultaneously.

First, the premises required substantial practical renovation—including dismantling, electrical, plumbing, air-conditioning, ceiling, flooring and toilet works—to make the space suitable for its new commercial purpose.

Second, Layer 28 needed an identity strong enough to differentiate the café visually.

Because the interior has an elongated footprint, the design also needed to accommodate customer seating and circulation without making the café feel overly crowded.

The challenge therefore extended beyond aesthetics: the technical renovation, spatial planning and customer-facing design features needed to work together.

Our Solution

Lambert Design & Build approached Layer 28 as a complete commercial transformation.

The existing premises were first addressed through the necessary hacking and dismantling works before the technical infrastructure and finishes were rebuilt for the new café environment.

The interior was then developed around a modern-classic design language, using a controlled combination of white surfaces, warm neutral tones, darker structural elements and brass-gold accents.

Custom-made features gave the café its stronger identity.

The 360° French-style swivel entrance door establishes the experience from the storefront. The brass-gold cake display turns product presentation into part of the interior. Custom Lamitak HPL carpentry supports the operational requirements of the café, while the wavy fabric ceiling installation creates a memorable artistic feature overhead.

Finally, warm layered lighting connects these elements and creates the relaxed, refined atmosphere envisioned for the completed café.

Project Outcome

Layer 28 demonstrates how an underutilised commercial property can be transformed through interior design, renovation, technical coordination and custom fabrication.

What began as an empty and abandoned space became an award-recognised modern-classic café in George Town, Penang.

The finished project has its own visual language—from the distinctive white and brass-gold entrance to the illuminated cake display, custom café counter, warm seating environment and sculptural fabric ceiling.

For Lambert Design & Build, Layer 28 represents more than a café refurbishment.

It demonstrates our approach to commercial and F&B interior design in Penang: understanding how a business needs to operate while creating a physical environment customers can recognise, experience and remember.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Layer 28 Cafe located?

Layer 28 Cafe is located within the heritage area of George Town, Penang, Malaysia.

Who designed and renovated the Layer 28 Cafe interior?

Lambert Design & Build (M) Sdn. Bhd. carried out the interior design and renovation works for this commercial café project.

What was the design concept for Layer 28 Cafe?

The café was developed around a modern classic interior concept, combining classic-inspired architectural details with contemporary commercial design, warm lighting and custom-made features.

What was the original condition of the premises?

The project began with an empty and abandoned interior, which was transformed into the completed Layer 28 Cafe.

What renovation works were involved?

The confirmed scope included hacking and dismantling, plumbing, ceiling works, electrical wiring, air-conditioning, floor re-tiling, toilet refurbishment and custom-made carpentry furniture.

What are the main design highlights of Layer 28?

Key features include the custom 360° French-style swivel entrance door, brass-gold cake display rack, warm ambient lighting, custom café carpentry and wavy fabric artistic ceiling installation.

What material was used for the custom carpentry?

Lamitak HPL laminates were used for the custom-made carpentry furniture.

What makes the entrance design special?

A custom-made 360-degree French-style swivel door creates a distinctive entrance, complemented by rounded glazing, classic detailing and brass-gold hardware.

What is the feature above the cafe seating area?

A custom wavy fabric artistic installation forms a prominent overhead design feature, enhanced by warm lighting to emphasise its folds, texture and movement.

Does Lambert Design & Build provide cafe interior design in Penang?

Yes. Layer 28 is an example of Lambert Design & Build's commercial and F&B interior design and renovation work in Penang, involving both technical renovation works and customised interior features.

Can Lambert Design & Build handle more than the interior concept?

For Layer 28, the scope extended beyond design and carpentry to include hacking and dismantling, plumbing, electrical wiring, ceiling works, air-conditioning, floor re-tiling and toilet refurbishment, demonstrating an integrated commercial renovation approach.