Initial Visual Research

To do this research, I went to Curve Theatre with my friend to tour and take photos of the areas I was asked to redesign. Because it was very crowded that day and many people were rehearsing for their play, I limited my filming and photography, and avoided making noise so that everyone could concentrate on their rehearsals. Therefore, I only photographed the mezzanine area, Green Room Cafe, and Stage Door Bar. However, I couldn't accurately measure the length and width of the areas. I could only estimate based on the spacing and size of the tables and chairs. After that, I redrew my ideas based on my initial ideas and the current physical state of the Curve Theatre.

The first is the mezzanine area. According to Venkey (2026), the width of the mezzanine is 5m and the length is 98m. However, I can't guess its height. Looking at the photos, the mezzanine appears quite long and has a high ceiling. Additionally, one side has glass doors, and the other provides a view down to the ground floor, so I want to place seating in the middle, with two rows separated by a partition. Then I have sketched out my initial idea. I used the initial concept of a combined adult and child seating arrangement and adapted it to the actual dimensions of the mezzanine area.

According to Designing Idea (2025), benches typically have a seat height of approximately 46–51 cm, a depth of around 38–51 cm, and a length of 107–152 cm and it would depend on the number of people who will sit. Therefore, I will set the width of the bench at 40–45 cm, and the width of the partition with plants at 25–30 cm. Then, the width of the bench could be 105–120 cm. The walkway on one side could be 190–240 cm. With these dimensions, guests can move around comfortably in the mezzanine space.

Next one I will mention is the Garden Room Cafe area. It's located very close to the entrance and has a curved shape. However, I found it quite small, and in fact, people put so many tables there that the walkways were very cluttered. From what I saw, this area is quite narrow in width but can be extended lengthwise. The beverage counter is divided into two sections, one for staff and one for customers. The size of this space also differs, one side is wider and the other is narrower, but it extends lengthwise. 

To redesign the interior of the coffee area, I want to change the seating in the window area to long benches with small tables. Because this area has plenty of light and offers views outside, I want long benches so people can enjoy their coffee. According to Designing Idea (2025), I will set the bench width at 45 cm and the height at 45 cm. Since I haven't calculated the length of the window yet, I can't measure the length of the benches. For a coffee table, I would choose a small one, like a single table, because I only want it to use for holding drinks and not for working. According to Coohom (2026), coffee table size should be determined based on sofa length, seat height, and surrounding circulation space. Most coffee tables have standard dimensions of 16–18 inches (40–46 cm) in height, 30–48 inches (76–122 cm) in length, and 18–30 inches (46–76 cm) in width. However, I want my table to be used solely for holding drinks, and to save space, I will take the standard dimensions of a coffee table and then divide it in half to make a smaller coffee table. I will take the standard coffee table dimensions of 76 cm long and 46 cm wide, then divide it in half, so I will have 38 cm long and 46 cm wide. However, I want the table height to be higher than the chair seat, so I can use 50-55 cm. 

However, I will put a trash can between the benches so people can throw away their trash easily. Additionally, the trash can will be inside a table, concealing it, and the tabletop will hold items like sugar, spoons, and straws for customers. I got this trash can idea from McDonald's, it looked very neat and clean. However, I am still looking for trash can sizes that fit the space. 

          Photo of a trash can at McDonald's

Where the trash can is located, I would like to add a small plant to make the space greener. I want to use the countertop for storage and leave a large empty space for the plant to grow.

In the middle of the cafe space, I'll design tables with partitions. This is also one of my initial ideas. Since not only customers but also staff can sit and work here, I want to make the tables larger so they can place their computers. To save space, I'll combine two tables and put a partition in the middle. Additionally, I will combine my initial idea, based on the slash form, to create a table for the coffee shop.

 

Besides that, I also researched the color scheme of the Curve Theatre when I visited. Most of the space was red in various shades. So I will keep the theatre's red color but change the shades of red based on my chosen concept of minimalism.  

I'm currently exploring the two color palettes below. Although they both feature red, they are very neutral and are suitable for bar and cafe spaces. In palette 1, the combination of red and gray helps the furniture stand out more. The gray can serve as a background for the red. While it looks quite simple, it still bring an effective solution in design.

Rosewood + Penn Red + Silver + Davy'S Gray + Licorice

In the second color palette, the red transitions from deep purple to carmine. It has a muted tone and creates a sense of depth when the colors are placed close together. So I think it would also suit my project this time.

Dark Purple + Black Bean + Chocolate Cosmos + Rosewood + Carmine

Reference: 

            - Writers, DI Editorial Team &. Bench Dimensions (Indoor & Outdoor Size Guide) - Designing Idea. designingidea.com/bench-dimensions/. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.

            - Photo of a trash can at McDonald's:  https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mcdonalds-manchester-20

- Coohom.com. “Coffee Table Size for Small Living Room: Stop Crowding.”, 2026, www.coohom.com/article/coffee-table-size-for-small-living-rooms-how-to-choose-the-right-dimensions. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.

- “Curve Theatre Venue to Hire - VenKey.” Venkey.co.uk, 2026, venkey.co.uk/venue/curve-theatre. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.

- “25+ Best Red Color Palettes with Names and Hex Codes.” CreativeBooster, 9 Jan. 2024, creativebooster.net/blogs/colors/red-color-palettes. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.