Image Credit : Photography by Adam Amin and Regan Ching
Project Overview
Nestled within the iconic art deco setting of Sydney’s Queen Victoria Building, Babette is a destination which effortlessly exudes ‘la francité’ way of life, welcoming guests to be part of an engaging experience of café culture. Visitors to this alluring café are transported to beautifully crafted open seating spaces with inherent design features that channels the vibe of sipping coffee outside with a French pastry in hand.
Project Commissioner
Project Creator
Team
Jayson Lee - Design Leader
Gaby Herbosa - Interior Designer
Danyin Zhu - Branding Designer
Build by Insitu Construction
Project Brief
INCO was tasked to design a functional and welcoming oasis for locals, tourists and shoppers to take a moment and enjoy the ambience of a cosmopolitan café which incorporates design cues to complement the classic architectural elements of the heritage-listed Queen Victoria Building.
A unique brand identity and aesthetic was created around a modern, striking and cultured French personality; from this Babette was born.
A holistically successful outcome was achieved by reinforcing the brand DNA throughout the layered materials palette and in every design detail; each experiential focal point within the café environment aligns with the ethos behind the brand.
Strategic and thoughtful spatial planning for the back of house, retail and customer touchpoints were crucial to accommodate the client’s operational requirements and bestow visitors with a memorable encounter at Babette.
Project Innovation/Need
INCO’s design approach was to emphasise simplistic beauty, functionality, warmth and sophistication by exemplifying balance and permutation through the choice of colours, materials and organic textures, signage placement and execution of all the design elements.
Inspired to create a physical design narrative around ‘la francite’ way of life, Babette embraces its surroundings and exists to be compelling.
With consideration to the cafe shopfront, grab & go counter, free-standing pastry counter and the seating areas, each of these individual touchpoints were strategically arranged to present a cohesive visual connection; and crafted within the site constraints so customers can comfortably transition through the space with a sense of purpose and harmony.
The construction details and hardware application behind each custom joinery piece was meticulously determined to ensure the design outcome stayed authentic to the marble and stone materials within the curved forms. The play on various textures and soft earthy palettes embodies the graceful movement and intrigue behind Babette, allowing all users to interact with a part of the brand through perception and physical touch.
From its conception, Babette wanted its dine-in customers to feel they can relax and socialise in a refined space intrinsic in bespoke details, whilst in the context of a bustling centre setting.
Mimicking the atmosphere of sitting outside, the circular design of the banquette seating with integrated overhead lighting wraps around an elegant olive style tree, serving as a quintessential anchor point distinctive from other stores in the building.
Design Challenge
The main design challenge for this project was working with a non-traditional hospitality and kiosk site layout with a heritage overlay.
This design concept is defined by a confident brand identity, refined aesthetics, earthy soft tones and clean lines; with a strong focus on functionality and creating enticing yet accessible spaces for visitors to dwell in a busy mall surround.
Complex embellishments and cluttered positioning were avoided throughout the design process to ensure each element and detail served a purpose and reflects the brand message.
Natural materials with organic textures such as timber, marble and stone were incorporated to add warmth and elegance to the space. Babette’s finishes palette harnesses a sense of self and delineation from the existing mosaic floor tiles, whilst also taking subtle design cues from the existing art deco setting to create a harmonious connection to the QVB.
Sustainability
The following sustainability strategy was implemented for the Babette project:
• From the onset, the client was encouraged to specify appliances and equipment with the highest energy star rating.
• Natural marble and stone were selected for their adaptability, longevity and durability – they are the primary feature materials utilised in the design.
• All the bespoke lighting were integrated into the joinery design, only long life LED globes were specified.
• All signage elements are non illuminated - Thoughtful signage design and purposeful placement create a subtle impact without illumination.
• Furniture items were specified from reputable suppliers/manufacturers which included commercial warranties and allowed for take-back at the end of use where applicable.
Interior Design - Hospitality - On the Go
This award celebrates innovative and creative building interiors, with consideration given to space creation and planning, furnishings, finishes, aesthetic presentation and functionality. Consideration also given to space allocation, traffic flow, building services, lighting, fixtures, flooring, colours, furnishings and surface finishes.
More Details