Jury Citation
Housed in a nineteenth-century wool store that was previously known as the
longtime headquarters of book publisher Lonely Planet in Melbourne’s Footscray, There Cafe makes dramatic yet
sensitive use of its heritage location. Executed with impressive restraint by Ewert Leaf,
this buzzing inner-west meeting spot is a place where our jury could happily imagine settling in for a
long afternoon to drink coffee with friends. Premium finishes share a subtle, uniform colour palette,
with steel beams, leather banquettes, polished concrete and industrial light fittings accentuating the soaring, almost floor-to-ceiling windows that draw in waves of natural light. There’s a softness to the design that plays off the grandness
of the original building. The rich textures and discoverable layers feel unforced, giving an easy
sensibility and sophistication to the venue. While many cafe fitouts can quickly feel dated,
There has a patina that will age well into the future.