Jury comment
At Industry Beans, the use of the ubiquitous timber pallet creates a strong and defined interior. The pallets give the cafe an overall industrial aesthetic and add a surprising amount of warmth to the design. The jury praised the architects’ clear and concise vision when resolving the vast volume of space of this old warehouse. The quality of light in what could have been a dark and dreary space shows a consideration of the connection between the interior and the exterior. The designers have exhibited a simple and clear concept that has realized the interior’s true potential while weaving it into surrounding street life.
Design statement
Industry Beans is a cafe and coffee roastery in an existing factory shell. The design features a double-height dining hall, with low-cost materials such as pallets and plywood providing warmth and texture to the industrial setting. An external structure uses pivoting panels to playfully moderate the external conditions. The clients wanted to provide a setting that could not only showcase their inventive approach to food, but also their dedication to sourcing and roasting quality coffee beans from around the world. Given that the site is located on a back street in a semi-industrial neighbourhood, it was also important that there was a streetscape presence that could attract the attention of passing clientele. The inventive and resourceful nature of the built project reflects the clients’ creative approach to food and coffee. The design team aimed to transform a cold, empty shell into a vibrant, warm space that achieves a balance of calmness with a sense of theatre. The furniture has been carefully configured to provide a variety of seating opportunities, including long, low communal tables in the centre, high tables for couples along the wall, and high tables for small groups pushed to the rear. This arrangement allows for practical circulation and encourages “people watching” from the periphery inwards.
The Hospitality Design award is supported by Laminex. The Australian Interior Design Awards are presented by the Design Institute of Australia, DesignEX and Artichoke magazine. For more images of this project, see the Australian Interior Design Awards gallery.
