Kiva Han Coffee House
Sector
Restaurant
Location
Downtown Charleston
Year
1997
Design Team
Neil Stevenson Architects
3D Illustrations
Neil Stevenson Architects
Photographer
Neil Stevenson Architects
The original inspiration came from Rick’s bar in the Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman movie Casablanca.
The name 'Kiva Han' was inspired by the first coffee houses to pop up in Europe in the mid 16th century through Venetian merchants trading with the Ottoman Empire.
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The design of Kiva Han was inspired by Ottoman architecture which celebrated open, dynamic spaces of curves and arches. The transformation from the original, poorly light, un-inspired shipping office, into an energetic space with open ceilings, arched doorways and openings and a circular concrete bar that looked and felt like exotic aged leather, made it a favorite attraction for locals and visitors to the Holy City.​
