A contemporary cabin on an old basketball court serving Australasian cuisine in a Singaporean arts centre. It all adds up at Café Melba.
December 13th, 2012
“The story of Café Melba began with a romantic notion and a walk through the gardens of Goodman Arts Centre,” says Joris Angevaare, Design Director at designphase dba.
Formerly LaSalle College of the Arts and prior to that a secondary school, Goodman Arts Centre in Singapore’s east is a 7-acre complex that houses art and creative groups, as well as the National Arts Council of Singapore, and offers multiple shared facilities for rental.
The creative aura, the old school buildings and the site’s lush greenery create a unique environment in Singapore, and encourage feelings of escape from the city bustle.
designphase dba built on this quality when designing Café Melba, which sits on the site of the school’s old basketball court. The idea was to evoke the feeling of being on a family holiday – of residing in a relaxed vacation cabin and gazing out to nature.
“The site has a beautiful aspect, perfectly positioned as a vantage point to the panorama of lush grass and elegant tall foliage, which created the perfect setting for the café‐restaurant,” says Angevaare.
The design team sought a ‘modern Australian vernacular’ style. Daylight filters through the 4-metre-high timber louvres and into the rustic restaurant and bar space. Oiled timber floors, exposed beams, earth-toned fabrics contribute to the effect. The raw concrete bar top is capped in solid reclaimed timber.
A variety of seating options and communal tables speak of informality, and from the outdoor terrace, parents can relax while their kids run around on an adjacent field.
The 1,500-square-foot establishment was designed in 12 weeks and constructed in 20 weeks. This is designphase dba’s second project for Tadcaster Hospitality, following The Exchange at Asia Square.
designphase dba
designphasedba.com
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
In the pursuit of an uplifting synergy between the inner world and the surrounding environment, internationally acclaimed Interior Architect and Designer Lorena Gaxiola transform the vibration of the auspicious number ‘8’ into mesmerising artistry alongside the Feltex design team, brought to you by GH Commercial.
Sub-Zero and Wolf’s prestigious Kitchen Design Contest (KDC) has celebrated the very best in kitchen innovation and aesthetics for three decades now. Recognising premier kitchen design professionals from around the globe, the KDC facilitates innovation, style and functionality that pushes boundaries.
Savage Design’s approach to understanding the relationship between design concepts and user experience, particularly with metalwork, transcends traditional boundaries, blending timeless craftsmanship with digital innovation to create enduring elegance in objects, furnishings, and door furniture.
Marylou Cafaro’s first trendjournal sparked a powerful, decades-long movement in joinery designs and finishes which eventually saw Australian design develop its independence and characteristic style. Now, polytec offers all-new insights into the future of Australian design.
One Central Park’s living walls is the largest green façade ever undertaken on a residential tower in Australia, with almost fifty per cent of the building covered in greenery.
Caroline Burns pioneers new Geyer studio, further developing the firm’s presence in Asia.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Artificial intelligence is one of the defining issues of our time. Here are five ideas articles addressing the anxieties and possibilities of the technology in design.
Third in the series of boutique hotels under the Lloyd’s Inn brand, Lloyd’s Inn Kuala Lumpur bring the immediacy of nature to the new high-rise hospitality experience in the heart of a bustling city.