Au 79 Café Chadstone
In a capital highly praised for its coffee culture, Au79 became one of Melbourne’s go-to purveyors of a caffeine hit with the opening of its first cafe in the inner-city suburb of Abbotsford. Representing a giant leap from the brand’s humble beginnings in a garage nearby, the look and feel of the debut outlet was created by local design office Mim Design, led by company founder and principal Miriam “Mim” Fanning. As the first cafe flourished, the Au79 team secured their “second home” a kiosk-style site in the Chadstone shopping complex, once again tapping Mim to formulate the design.
Spilling in an abundance of natural light, Chadstone’s dramatic, vaulted glass ceiling inspired the designers to replicate the look and feel of a greenhouse sanctuary. A strong architectural presence is created by the café’s white brick arched framework which follows the sweeping lines of the glass ceiling. Lush planting elevated overhead enhances the greenhouse feel, establishing the café as a place of tranquillity and respite, and inviting shoppers to take five, sit back and refuel.
Separated by the servery, the café’s floorplan is designated into two distinct patron zones: the café and its bar. Kieren Guerrero, project leader at Mim Design, speaks to this choice of layout, “the café addresses the main retail thoroughfare, while the bar offers a more intimate and exclusive experience facing the luxury retailers”.
Mim Design’s response to the Chadstone site nods to its older Abbottsford sibling through brass details, scalloped profiles, tactile finishes, and rich greenery. A commitment to high-quality materials and design is extended at Chadstone by the tonal combinations of white brick and terrazzo paired with green-tinged stone and light natural leather, which form a harmonious palette.
A series of oversized ball pendants are centred above, allowing Au79 to fulfil their commitment to providing café service throughout the day and into the early evening. “At night, we wanted to create the atmosphere of sitting under the glow of the moon,” says Kieren. The giant orbs of light provide a gentle illumination, enabling a seamless day-to-night transition while adding to the grandeur of the theatrical colonnade.
The versatility of the space is further enhanced by a combination of fixed banquette seating built into the kiosk boundary, in addition to relaxed furniture settings and moveable joinery at the café’s front. While the fixed seating ensures the space can achieve mandatory seat numbers, the other elements facilitate an easy transformation of the space for a variety of events such as retail launches, cocktail soirees, or fashion events.
In delivering the design of Au79’s second café, Mim Design accomplishes their aim to create “a destination that redefines the expectation of what a kiosk is”. Skilfully melding a creative and daring approach with the demands and desires of the client and their coffee-loving patrons, Au79’s design is a testament to Mim Design’s ability to reimagine the constraints of a challenging site.
“Lush planting elevated overhead enhances the greenhouse feel, establishing the café as a place of tranquillity and respite, and inviting shoppers to take five, sit back and refuel.”
“Lush planting elevated overhead enhances the greenhouse feel, establishing the café as a place of tranquillity and respite, and inviting shoppers to take five, sit back and refuel.”
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