2019 Gallery
Winner: Best Retail Design
Hecker Guthrie for Piccolina Collingwood
296 Smith Street
Collingwood, Victoria
Hecker Guthrie have created a flagship store for Melbourne gelateria, Piccolina. “Piccolina” means little one in Italian, and although small in footprint this Gelato store in Collingwood certainly packs a punch with its bold colours and inserted sculptural elements.
Jury Citation
The Collingwood outpost of popular gelato shop Piccolina showcases an approach that makes wonderful use of the raw materials with which the designers were presented. Elements of the historic building were defining factors for the overall design of the project: original interior brickwork was exposed, as well as layers of light green, cream and brown paint, which became the inspiration for the colour palette of the shop. Original terrazzo floors and a pressed metal ceiling were also restored, giving the space an authentic vintage feel, while clean lines in the gelato counter, seating and signage modernize the space. The result is understated but beautiful, and evokes Southern Italy – a specific request of the client – without blunt literal interpretation. As a retail space, the shop expresses an appropriately stylish sense of fun, in perfect alignment with the product being sold.
