Krume bakery in Panama – where bread meets architecture

I’ve seen a lot of bakeries. Some want to be urban-cool, others smell wonderfully of nostalgia and rye. But then Krume bakery came along. And I thought: Wow. This isn’t a bakery, it’s a manifesto. A place that doesn’t just sell bread, but attitude – architecturally composed, with a deep awareness of sustainability and local craftsmanship.

And yes, we are talking about a bakery in Panama City. With Austrian roots. Sounds like a culinary-architectural plot twist? It is. And that’s exactly why Krume bakery is now our new interior crush.

A room made of earth – literally.

Let’s start with what immediately catches the eye: the walls and bar are not made of cement or wood, but of tamped, local earth. You read that right. No energy-intensive production, no long supply chains – just a traditional building material, rethought. Tactile like a warm stone, climatically stable, acoustically pleasant. Made by Aparato A and local artisans who have brought this almost forgotten knowledge back to life with dedication.

Good to know: Rammed earth has the same insulating properties as concrete, without the CO₂ debt – why doesn’t everyone do it?

Past wood, new life

The furniture also tells stories: The tables and chairs were made from decades-old tropical wood salvaged from the Bayano reservoir – the remains of a flooded forest area. Sustainability? Here in its purest form. No trees had to be felled, no forest decimated. Instead, the wood was carefully salvaged, dried and transformed by Alma Studio into pieces of furniture that you want to caress.

The wood is sourced in cooperation with the Guna Madugandí community – an example of how design can impress not only aesthetically but also ethically.

Licht, Linien, Luft

Calm reigns inside. The clear lines, the well thought-out seating islands and the atmospheric lighting (set by Arquiluz) create an atmosphere that is almost zen-like. Nothing intrudes, nothing distracts – neither design gimmicks nor bright colors. It’s all about the bread. And about the people who enjoy it. Whether you’re in for a quick espresso or a longer meeting: The feeling of space remains light, permeable, inviting.

Sustainable interior design as a statement

Krume bakery is not just a place to linger, but a model of how sustainable interior design can be implemented at the highest level. It is this conscious use of materials, the proximity to origin and working with local communities that turns a good concept into a great one. And it shows: Sustainability doesn’t have to be a compromise. It can be spectacularly beautiful – with attitude, soul and character.

Conclusion: less noise, more soul

Krume bakery in Panama is proof that design can be minimalist, radical and romantic at the same time. Sustainability doesn’t just start with organic coffee and bamboo cutlery – it starts with the question of how we think about our spaces. So the next time you’re sitting in a bakery, ask yourself: “How much character is actually in these walls?”