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Brunswick Cafe & Deli

Hospitality Design

Location: 938 Brunswick Street, New Farm QLD 4005

Nestled away in a residential area, Brunswick Café and Deli is located on a leafy and prominent corner block with views to New Farm Park. Brunswick Café and Deli is an authentic Italian all day eatery and deli offering take home meals, home-made condiments and locally sourced and imported artisan products. The café also has a vibrant ambiance, memorable coffee, and food that will take you back to its original Italian owners, the Gambaro’s.

The client brief was to bring Brunswick café and deli back to its original heritage, that of a corner store café and deli. The aim was to achieve this with a contemporary revamp and rebrand, while maintaining a strong customer loyalty. The vision is to restore the café back to its original roots and invite the community to share her passion for good food, coffee and company.

The space draws inspiration from modern Italian homes and I have created key design features, including a hanging rolling pin feature above the coffee counter to draw attention to the area as well as ground it. I have taken a simple and elegant approach focusing on custom design joinery and creating a space that strips the mind of any unnecessary distractions and feeds the soul with calm and mindfulness.

Concept Development

The concept for Brunswick Café and Deli was to create a venue that pays homage to the original café and deli that fitted so effortlessly into the New Farm community. The project will draw inspiration from the atmosphere and aesthetics of ancient Italian architecture, culture and traditional Italian family kitchen and pantry to seamlessly blend into a contemporary modern design. A modern rustic Italian aesthetic that evokes a sense of warmth, comfort and Italian heritage. Engrained with a love of food, family and friends the project creates a homely space for the heart and soul that will evoke feelings of Italy. The design will rejuvenate the existing corner tenancy to provide the local community with a unique and dynamic eatery and deli.

Upon entering the site, you are greeted into an Italian courtyard, a panelled overhang allows for filtered sunlight to cast a shadow play of light below. It’s sophisticated yet laid back. Uninterrupted views to the park provide the space with a picturesque backdrop of lush greenery and New Farms Iconic Jacaranda Trees.

When entering the venue, patrons are welcomed into an open-plan dining area featuring an enticing deli that transitions into merchandise shelving. The curved deli counter guides the customer around the venue to the coffee counter which features a hanging rolling pin design statement. The private back of house areas are neatly separated through a small corridor. Clear circulation paths have been created throughout the space without compromising comfort or accessibility.

The deli is grounded by the custom joinery lining the back wall where vibrant products will line the merchandise shelving allowing customers to browse and enjoy the array of locally sourced and imported artisanal foods. The large kitchen pass and open counters serves as a place where customers are encouraged to lean as well maintain a strong bond between staff and customers. A signature curved ceiling arching over the seating and coffee counter area defines and grounds this area creating a more intimate and welcoming space to sit and spend time in.

Large windows continue along the Sydney Street entrance with views to the park and large bi-fold doors allow the river breezes to circulate through the venue.Above the coffee counter and seating area is the main design feature of hanging rolling pins which not only provides a unique and dynamic space but acts as nod to the traditional Italian family kitchen and home style cooking. It also balances out the busyness above the deli counter and creates a symmetry throughout the space. The space is fitted with different seating options ranging from loose furniture to a mixture of custom-made booth seating which allows the café to cater for more people and is flexible enough to adapt for different occasions. Furniture has been sourced and custom made by The Wood Room to keep in line with the authentic, rustic and modern Italian theme and focusing on the cafes environmental footprint.

Large glass panels line the walls, creating a seamless transition between the outside and in. This also floods the space with ample natural light that will cast unique shadow play on the rustic textural materials used throughout.

The design palette is minimalistic and rustic and provides the customers with the opportunity to create their own memories and experiences around the wholesome food and atmosphere that Brunswick Café and Deli has to offer. The space provides the user with a sensory experience which stems from the intricate details of form, texture, pattern and the shadow play of light. The space is built upon the Italian traditions, having that old-world Italian charm combined with a modernist take on the Mediterranean aesthetics and lifestyle. When you walk through its doors you imbue a sense of familiarity, charm and comfort

Software:

Revit, Photoshop, Lightroom