When Coco Riva opened its new beach bar and culture bistro at Lake Pfäffikon in Switzerland, the location needed a physical brand element that felt integrated into the space from day one.
The setting was a new lakeside destination with views across Lake Pfäffikon toward the surrounding mountains. The architecture is defined by exposed concrete, a material that might seem stark at first glance but feels natural in this environment. Its texture and muted tones echo the rocky mountain landscape, while its cool grey surface complements the changing colors of the lake throughout the day.
This connection between architecture and nature creates a calm, understated atmosphere that feels both contemporary and grounded in its surroundings. The signage therefore needed to become part of that architectural language and support the relaxed hospitality concept without feeling loud, decorative, or detached from the building itself.
The challenge
Coco Riva was preparing for the opening of a new location on 17 March 2026. Without the right signage, the project would have started with an unfinished visual identity on site.
The main challenge was creating a concept that would work with the architecture, the material surroundings, and the visibility needs of a location directly by the water.
For a beach bar, especially a newly opened one, signage has to do several things at once. It has to make the location visible. It has to help passers-by understand that something new has opened. It also has to reflect the character of the venue and feel like a natural part of the architecture rather than an element added afterwards.
The Solution
For Coco Riva, a metal logo was produced in anodized aluminum and installed with spacers on an exposed concrete wall.
Anodized aluminum was chosen because it offered the right balance for this setting. Compared with stainless steel, it has a softer and warmer visual character, while still keeping the logo clean, precise, and modern.
The spacer installation gives the logo physical depth without making it feel heavy. On the concrete wall, the material creates a clear contrast while still fitting naturally into the architecture.
Because the logo is placed in a lakeside environment, the changing daylight becomes part of the design. In the morning, the logo appears bright and precise. Later in the day, the effect becomes calmer and more relaxed. This makes the signage feel connected to the atmosphere of the restaurant instead of behaving like a static decoration.
The result
The finished logo gives Coco Riva a clear point of identity at the new location. It increases the visibility of the restaurant and helps the space feel complete from the moment guests and passers-by encounter it.
According to the customer, the reactions have been consistently positive. The logo and the material fit organically into the architecture and the existing materials of the location.
The project also shows how important it is to consider physical branding elements from the very beginning of a project. A logo in a digital file is only one part of the identity, and the way it will exist in the physical space should be part of the concept from the start. Once translated into the right material, placed in the right context, and installed with the right construction method, it becomes part of the spatial experience.
Customer feedback
“The collaboration with cadout was excellent. Good consultation, fast implementation, and great quality. The installation instructions including accessories were also very good.”
For Coco Riva, the biggest difference was visibility. The signage helped the new location present itself as finished, considered, and recognizable from the start.
Project details
- Client: Coco Riva
- Location: Beach bar and culture bistro at Lake Pfäffikon, Switzerland
- Occasion: New location and opening
- Material: Anodized aluminum
- Installation: Spacer-mounted on exposed concrete
- Main effect: Increased visibility and stronger spatial brand presence