There Cafe
Footscray VIC
Services
- Interior Design
- Town Planning
- Construction Documentation
- Construction Services
Sector
- Hospitality
A new gathering place in an unlikely yet unique heritage icon.
Winner – Good Design Awards 2021
Winner – Workspace Awards 2020 – (Emerging Designer & Hospitality Design)
Shortlisted -Restaurant & Bar Design Awards 2021- Hospitality
Shortlisted – Eat Drink Design Awards 2020
Shortlisted – IDEA Awards 2020 – Hospitality
The historical former Lonely Planet HQ offered the perfect industrial canvas for There Cafe. Both the building’s past and fabric are rich in history and nostalgia and it has continued to be at the forefront of invention since 1875. From Australia’s first Rubber Factory, to becoming the global distribution centre for Lonely Planet to the Fab9 innovation labs currently calling the building home. Amongst this iconic mixed-use, creative hub sits Gathered. The design aims to celebrate the existing fabric of the building, highlighting its industrial nature.
Raw steel columns, original brickwork, cathedral like windows and 6m ceilings form the canvas for the minimal design. Creating the feeling of welcomeness and warmth was paramount when crafting a space where people feel welcome and at home, particularly in a space without direct outlook. This has ultimately been achieved through soft linen curtains, delicately detailed joinery which also referencing modernist furniture, inlaid Japanese tiles, textured leather and shades of green. Preloved, authentic industrial pendants were sourced by the client on a trip to Amsterdam and have made themselves perfectly at home at There Cafe. Soft concealed lighting accentuates the existing steel beams and impressive volume as well as offer an inviting glow.
