At Archisoul, we bring the same emphasis on comfort and elegant design to commercial projects as we do to residential work. This Manly cafe fit-out is a case in point. The raw food and vegetarian eatery is the brainchild of Betania Barkway, whose culinary ethos is all about encouraging healthy eating with tasty, nutritious food. Her dishes are “cooked with love and served with a smile” to the health-conscious locals.
Our design for the Native Real Feel Cafe sought to echo Betania’s natural and raw cuisine in the materiality and function of the space.
The primary challenge in this project was the difficulty of fitting a full-service cafe into a very small space. Smart design thinking resulted in a space that comfortably seats 14 people inside and six outside, with enough room for a fully equipped kitchen, counter area, display cabinets and working space for three staff. Despite its diminutive size, the café feels open, airy and welcoming.
The design makes a feature of the front façade and entry with a trompe l’oeil effect, making the doorway appear doubly large to enhance the cafe’s street presence. The illusory oversize entrance is complemented by outdoor seating and plants, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere in the heart of Manly.
The cafe was designed, approved, constructed and open for business within three months. Archisoul worked with the client to design a café that could be approved under Complying Development Code to minimise approval times.