The concept of this raw food and vegetarian café in Manly is the brainchild of Betania Barkway, whose philosophy is to encourage healthy eating and for her food to be “cooked with love and served with a smile”. The concept of natural and raw became a driving design philosophy to be related to materiality & function of the space.
The size constraint of the café was a challenge, whilst extremely small, the café comfortably sits 14 people inside and 6 outside, plus a fully equipped kitchen, counter, display cabinets and working space for 3 staff. Despite the size the café feels open, airy and has a welcoming vibe.
The front façade and entry has been made a feature by appearing to double the original size of the door to enhance the street presence of the café. The illusion of a large entry door has since been complimented by outdoor seating and plants, creating a welcoming atmosphere within 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 which minimised approval times.
