General Porpoise – 2 locations

General Porpoise Laurelhurst

For the Laurelhurst location, there a need to expand production of their signature General Porpoise doughnuts. The Best Practice & the Sea Creatures teams revitalized the underutilized retail frontage in into a full-scale commissary kitchen and local café. The modest but open and airy café fronts the commissary kitchen that is merely up a few steps and in-view from the entry. The concrete floor, exposed masonry wall, industrial windows and exposed wood ceiling joists are remnants of the original 1950s warehouse and is accented by the new café program in General Porpoise trademark hot pinks, bright blues, crisp white marble and rich brass.

Project Type

Hospitality, Commercial

Location

Seattle, WA

Status

Both completed in 2018

Size

2,350 sf (Laurelhurst)
1,640 sf (Pioneer Square)

Contractor

Anderson Construction Group

Photographer Credit

Elizabeth Phung
Aaron Leitz

Collaborators

Price Erickson (designer)
Fixture Design Studio
Jeffry Mitchell (artist)
Metalworks Design Studio

Elizabeth Phung

Elizabeth Phung

Elizabeth Phung

Elizabeth Phung

The design continues the General Porpoise tradition of the front coffee bar as a solid white marble block with an inset doughnut display case in one corner. Display case and the espresso machine cheerfully express themselves with the signature bright pink accent color. Hanging above are beautifully detailed Scandinavian brass pendants. Patrons can enjoy a doughnut and espresso on the white-washed oak floating banquette with powder-coated pink metal brackets that edge the perimeter of the café with comfortable navy channel-tufted upholstery. The café banquette seating is complemented with custom marble top café tables with pink powder-coated bases and white metal mesh side chairs.

Elizabeth Phung

Elizabeth Phung

General Porpoise Pioneer Square

Inhabiting the corner of the historic Merrill Place building in Seattle’s Pioneer Square, this location of General Porpoise is a beautiful and airy space replete with classical details and fresh modern lines. Best Practice participated as Architect of Record in collaboration with Sea Creatures (General Porpoise’s parent company) to create this beautiful cafe. A luxurious marble counter with the signature inset doughnut display case lines the long space and herd of artist Jeffry Mitchell’s whimsical elephant pendant lamps stampede across the ceiling.

Aaron Leitz

Aaron Leitz

Aaron Leitz

Aaron Leitz

Aaron Leitz

Aaron Leitz

Aaron Leitz

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