Jury comment
The Urban Coffee Farm & Brew Bar demonstrated the functional, environmental and social benefits of product and material re-use over and above recycling. Pallets, plants and shipping containers helped create a desirable and attractive space, while also addressing the ephemeral nature of installation in an intelligent manner. This project shows an honest and transparent use of benign materials to create something very special.
Design statement
Splintering from Queensbridge Square’s iconic Red Stair Amphitheatre, the Urban Coffee Farm and Brew Bar reinterpreted a coffee farm in the centre of a bustling city. The design of the Urban Coffee Farm and Brew Bar transplanted the world’s exotic and elusive coffee-growing origins to Melbourne’s CBD, generating a new landscape for the visitor to explore. An undulating hill gave the visitor a glimpse of the story of coffee – from seedling to coffee cup – while wandering through the farm. Educational components were integrated into the design and they highlighted the process of harvesting and preparing the coffee beans for export. Finally, and perhaps most importantly to some caffeine enthusiasts, the visitor could sample freshly and expertly brewed coffee in the Tasting Cafe hidden within the hill. The core building materials of the Urban Coffee Farm and Brew Bar were shipping containers and pallets, chosen because they are key logistical components of the global coffee industry and bring coffee beans to our shores. This temporary installation brought 2013 Melbourne Food and Wine Festival visitors together in an engaging learning and social environment.
The Sustainability Advancement award is supported by Dulux Australia. The Australian Interior Design Awards are presented by the Design Institute of Australia, DesignEX and Artichoke magazine. For more images of this project, see the Australian Interior Design Awards gallery.
