The “Fountain Bar” proudly presents Espressamente illy, a genuine Italian coffee and bar cuisine experience with style and excellence.

In November 2014, Espressamente illy opened a brand new café location inside the McNamara Terminal at Detroit Metro Airport. Behind the design was retail design studio Studio H2G, located in Birmingham, Michigan. Espressamente illy is part of a next phase major redevelopment at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airpot’s McNamara Terminal, in which eight concession agreements were approved for 25 new food and beverage concepts that will transform the airport’s restaurant and dining experience. Studio H2G was awarded with developing and designing Espressamente illy, as well as other concepts for the airport. This project for world renowned Italian-style coffee brand illy, brings travelers a coffee bar experience unlike any other.

Inspired by the innovative McNamara Water Feature in which the water streams represent paths of flight, the fountain bar echoes these graceful lines by creating a ceiling elegantly representative of a cloud like form. The design wraps floating ribbons seamlessly, housing the renowned international coffee brand and contemporary bar and lounge. The coffee bar and lounge installation is paired with the water feature to provide the airport guest a central point of destination to decompress, relax, and find a familiar space to meet with travelling friends and colleagues. It also allows travelers to simply pause for a moment of quiet reflection and enjoy world class food and beverage service. The unique design of the Espressamente illy Fountain Bar is extended to its adjacent seating lounge, where the airport guest can enjoy a unique airport amenity on arrival or prior to their departure.

The Fountain Bar also pays homage to another important feature of the McNamara Terminal, the “Light Tunnel,” which connects Concourse A with Concourse B&C. It has been the most talked-about feature at DTW since its inception.  The Fountain Bar installation uses LED panels to provide a soft ambient glow. This transforms the fountain bar into an attraction in Concourse A, as well as a connector to the Light Tunnel and Concourse B&C. illy aims to delight people all over the world who value the quality of life by offering the best possible coffee nature can provide, enhancing the perfection of it through the most innovative technologies, and inspiring emotional and intellectual involvement by seeking beauty in everything they do.

Design: Studio|H2G
Photography: Don Kurek