2020 Gallery
Winner: Best Cafe Design
Ewert Leaf for There Cafe
90 Maribyrnong St
Footscray, Victoria
Conceived as a shared meeting place, There Cafe is an uplifting and authentic hospitality proposition harnessed by the strength of its architectural setting. Housed in a 19th-century wool store, the pared-back interior celebrates the site’s industrial character while softly layering new interventions; an evolution of its historic identity.
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.
