2018 Gallery
Winner: Best Retail Design
Foolscap Studio for Chandon Australia
727 Maroondah Hwy
Coldstream, Victoria
Iconic méthode traditionelle producer Chandon Australia was due a cellar door rejuvenation that matched the calibre of its offering and heritage. A new brand-immersion across bar, dining, tasting and retail spaces was inspired by the surrounding landscape, the alchemic process of winemaking and the meeting of old and new worlds.
Jury Citation
The Chandon tasting room and boutique is a successful showcase of the brand, elevating it to international standards with impressive design. The jury remarked on the sense of presence: the airy space has generous and comfortable dimensions, with excellent flow from zone to zone, while a connection to landscape allows a sense of rawness to hover at the perimeter. The design aesthetic is feminine, which perfectly personifies the brand, while a bubble motif threaded through it complements the product. Clearly, the budget was generous, speaking to the premium aspirations of the brand, but we saw nothing gaudy or showy; there's restraint and the luxury of ease rather than lavish display. As a retail space, it works well: there's no doubt visitors will purchase here, and in that sense it's design that is supremely fit for purpose.
