2021 Eat Drink Design Awards: Best Restaurant Design – joint winner

Jury comment

In a city relatively short on heritage buildings, Agnes makes the most of a late-nineteenth-century warehouse on the edge of Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, transforming it into a temple of woodfired food. The jury noted how the design draws on the history of the premises, using a refined palette that sits in harmony with the beauty of existing features such as raw brickwork, concrete and render. Elsewhere, challenges have been treated as opportunities, a structural steel framework acting as a spine for the building, encouraging exploration of an upstairs rooftop terrace and an adjacent private dining area, and a downstairs bar. A low-benched kitchen is perhaps the venue’s defining feature: from the moment guests walk through the door, it allows an open view of the hearth, grill and woodfire oven, welcoming diners into the space and allowing them to share in an ancient and communal style of cooking.

Design statement

Humbly situated on an unassuming street in Fortitude Valley, Agnes is a contemporary restaurant specializing in the ancient art of woodfire cooking. Housed within a once dilapidated warehouse, the interior experience winds through four unique levels, with an evocative woodfire kitchen serving as the heart and soul of the venue. The design carefully integrates new contemporary elements within the existing building character. While respecting the old rather than replicating it, the design adopted a “bang-for-buck” approach and achieved an intriguing juxtaposition between raw rugged textures and simple yet elegant insertions. The kitchen was a strong focus in the design process, with the dining spaces configured to maximize views to the impressive woodfires. Surrounded by aged brick, concrete and render, the stairs constructed of steel and recycled timber connect guests to each of the unique spaces, some of which are encased within custom steel framing.

Project credits

Design practice: Amok; Project team: Sally Corones, Jennifer Knight

Agnes is built on the land of the Yuggera and Turrbul peoples.

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See the whole gallery of images at the Eat Drink Design Awards website.

The 2021 Eat Drink Design Awards are organized by Architecture Media and supported by supporting partners Roca, Latitude and Yal Yal Estate; and presenting partner James Richardson Furniture.

The Eat Drink Design Awards are endorsed by the Australian Institute of Architects and the Design Institute of Australia.