2013 Gallery

There is an expansive egalitarianism to Top Paddock Cafe. Not only does it accommodate diverse social groupings and moods, it also recognizes that in contemporary cafe culture dining out at any time, for any meal, can become an occasion. Sunday brunch may be “the new black” at Top Paddock Cafe, enjoyed at a perkily designed communal table, yet equally a solo coffee or drink can be had in a choice of snug nooks or engaging, people-watching spaces. The impressive spatial dexterity employed to achieve this intimacy within the ample envelope of the building is never at the expense of operational practicality, however, and Top Paddock Cafe shows the hallmarks of an evolved and honed approach to hospitality, from client and designer alike. The cafe makes a virtue of its busy roadside location and commercial context, with material references to urban surfaces and infrastructure, and quirky solutions like recycled street-sign seats. The careful blurring of interior and exterior eating places sets a neat balance between comfort and cafe culture. In an unlikely location, this lively project manages the richness and freshness of the fabled top paddock.