Not your standard grilled chicken shop!
Footscray’s diverse, high-energy food culture forms the backdrop for this prominent high-street corner site. The design responds with an exterior wrapped in vertical copper cladding and large-format weathering steel plates, creating a dynamic, reflective envelope that anchors the restaurant within the urban streetscape.
At ground level, full-height bifolding glass doors open the interior to the pavement, connecting indoor diners directly to the street. A dedicated al fresco dining deck is defined by a vibrant red perimeter balustrade featuring a repeating geometric chevron pattern, introducing a strong graphic identity before customers enter the space.
Inside, the open-plan layout is zoned through clever structural and material interventions. A central concrete column is wrapped in vertically striped blue-and-white ceramic tiles, breaking up the raw industrial surfaces. Seating configurations cater to different dining behaviors, featuring light-grained timber tables running parallel to the perimeter glazing, balanced by a long, structured banquette backed by a geometric textured block wall.
Overhead, a multi-colored timber-slatted ceiling raft incorporates exposed filament Edison bulbs and tiered woven pendant lights. This layered lighting strategy softens the industrial architecture, provides acoustic dampening, and casts warm, diffused shadows across the natural wood and tile finishes to deliver a cohesive, textured dining environment.
