Taking advantage of its unique site under the atrium in a major Melbourne shopping centre, this café is an elegant crossroad of old and new. Influenced by the idea of a garden party in a greenhouse, its neutral palette of soft oak, vintage patterned tiles and brass lettering gives the café a light and airy feel. The matte black trims provide a sharp and modern contrast to the otherwise light interiors.
What was the brief?
The clients were asked to upgrade the kiosk and the surrounding seating area as part of their lease renewal. They wanted to maximize the seating area whilst creating a calming environment for their customers.
What were the solutions?
The solution was to design a pergola where soft linen fabric could be draped over the joists during the hot summer months to provide a shading structure to the customers but removed during the winter to allow maximum sunlight into the space.
What were the key challenges?
The design needed to incorporate removable sunshades which dealt with the different seasonal conditions of the sun passing over the atrium.
How is the project unique?
The design of the cafe takes full advantage of the uniqueness of the site being located directly under the atrium space.
