2022 Eat Drink Design Awards: Best Retail Design – joint winner

Jury comment

Located in an old shoe-repair shop with a 1970s facade, this tiny venue and shopfront is notable for its comfortable, charming feel and its sense of engagement with the neighbourhood. The jury was won over by the qualities of the interior combined with the simple, direct, roller-shuttered exterior facade. We can imagine the scene in the early morning, where the cranking of the roller shutter heralds the baking of a new day’s bread. In contrast to nearly every other entry in the category, this retail experience is “externalized” by these simple touches, which project the space outwards and result in a venue that is a combination of an Australian and a European bakery encounter.

Design statement

Located off High Street in Melbourne’s Kew, Pronto by Via Porta offers the much-loved staples from its predecessor flagship store, with a “grab and go” style service. Contrasting with the rough and raw building, the shopfront reveals a refined design that injects freshness and the inherently Italian characteristics of the Via Porta brand. Lined with textured cream bricks and large industrial roller doors, the existing building is unassuming – one might consider a full makeover was needed. However, there was a nostalgic resemblance to the brutalist and mid-century architecture typically found on the outskirts of Italian cities, contrasting against the more picturesque heritage piazzas, and the design team looked to celebrate this juxtaposition. The design resolution is refined and feminine against its original shell. The palette is pared back yet captures the Italian characteristics of the brand, consisting of terrazzo flooring, warm timbers, textured rendered surfaces and nude pink hues that set a tone of warmth and comfort.

Pronto by Via Porta is built on the land of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people.

Project credits

Designer Studio Esteta Project team Sarah Cosentino, Thandi Stirling, Felicity Slattery

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

The 2022 Eat Drink Design Awards are organized by Architecture Media and supported by principal partner James Richardson Furniture, major partner Blind Corner, supporting partners Roca, No Rock and Latitude, and event partner Stomping Ground.

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