# Alfa Romeo's Quadrifoglio Inspires Geometric Café Design in Taipei RLWW Studio translates automotive iconography into Milanese Modernism-inspired interiors. - **Source:** [design archives | designboom | architecture & design magazine](https://brifing.si/source/11868f8d-1e20-41ac-bc2d-8c5af32d721b) - **Published:** 2026-09-29 - **Topic:** [Design & UX](https://brifing.si/c/design) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/d6b88fce-577c-4d22-bb64-07989d13d9ff ## Automotive brand meets café culture Caffè Fortuna in Taipei's Dazhi district reinterprets Alfa Romeo's Quadrifoglio emblem through architectural design. RLWW Studio transformed the four-leaf clover motif into geometric patterns visible across door handles, custom woodwork, and facade elements. The project draws from the client's private Alfa Romeo collection and the brand's Milanese heritage. Dark wood cladding integrates existing window frames while six geometric apertures control light and views. ## Material palette with automotive references The interior combines deep green tones with rich wood, stone, and iron details - a direct nod to mid-century Milanese Modernism. These materials create contrasting textures while maintaining design restraint. The palette extends to the facade where recessed voids and projecting masses echo interior volumes. Existing street elements like the corner traffic signal were incorporated into the spatial design. ## Geometric language throughout RLWW Studio deconstructed the Quadrifoglio into rational geometric forms appearing across all design elements. Patterned tiles reinterpret the clover motif as architectural decoration. Bevelled profiles create visual continuity between interior woodwork and exterior cladding. The studio maintained this geometric consistency while adapting to the Taipei urban context. ## Cultural bridge through design The café serves as a physical manifestation of Alfa Romeo's Italian heritage in an Asian urban setting. Design elements connect Taipei's contemporary café culture with Milanese automotive history. Material choices reference automotive interiors while functioning in a hospitality context. This approach demonstrates how brand iconography can translate across cultures and building typologies. ## Integrated existing elements The design strategically incorporates the site's existing features rather than replacing them. Dark wood cladding merges with original window frames through operable panels. The corner location's traffic signal becomes part of the material palette. This approach creates dialogue between new interventions and existing urban fabric while reducing construction waste. ## Light and spatial manipulation Six precisely placed geometric apertures control daylight penetration and sightlines to the street. Carved interior wall volumes create depth and shadow play. The composition balances solid masses with voids to achieve visual interest without ornamentation. This treatment references automotive design principles of functional aesthetics. ## Brand storytelling through architecture Every design decision reinforces the Alfa Romeo connection without literal branding. The Quadrifoglio motif appears abstracted in tiles and metalwork. Material selections echo automotive interiors. Spatial sequencing mimics the experiential journey of car showrooms. This demonstrates how architecture can extend brand narratives beyond traditional applications. ## Contextual brand experience Caffè Fortuna shows how automotive design language can successfully translate to hospitality spaces. The project maintains brand identity while adapting to local Taipei context through material integration and spatial planning. It establishes a model for how heritage brands can create physical experiences that feel authentic yet locally relevant in global markets. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.designboom.com/design/dark-wood-deep-green-alfa-romeo-iconic-design-caffe-fortuna-taipei-rlww-studio/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._