The space that now houses Bar Schilton was once a currency exchange office, a small family business where the investor herself once worked. When the idea of transforming the space emerged, her request was simple yet distinctive: to create a café inspired by the humour and atmosphere of the British television series Only Fools and Horses. The starting point for the concept was the theme of money and trade. This naturally led to the idea of the marketplace a place where boundaries blur and value is constantly negotiated through human interaction. The challenge was to combine references to a currency exchange, market culture, shifting borders, and the playful humour of Allo’ Allo into a coherent interior within the city of Bjelovar.

The design focuses on creating atmosphere through materials that carry memory and narrative. Looking back at the origins of banking culture led us to the tactile architectural language of Italy. The interior incorporates terrazzo palladiano flooring, a coffered ceiling reinterprets the idea of a traditional roof structure, while walls layered with wallpapers and textured finishes are designed to gradually develop a natural patina over time. At the centre of the space, the bar counter acts as the organising element of the interior, bringing together different material layers and spatial zones. Each surface invites a tactile experience that evolves through daily use, enriched by the presence of people, the aroma of coffee, and the scent of spices.

In this café, coffee becomes the new currency. The investor herself brings an additional layer of character to the space, interacting with guests with humour and charm, much like the characters of Allo’ Allo, who navigate everyday situations with wit, resilience, and warmth.