Synonymous with its name, this no-nonsense roaster cum cafe in Melbourne, Australia, takes its coffee and interiors, seriously. Leanne Amodeo reports
March 21st, 2013
When asked to explain the design vision behind Code Black Coffee, lead designer Katherine Kemp’s response is as fuss-free as her client’s brief. “The overall design was to set the stage for a serious no-nonsense approach to coffee.” Melburnians, after all, take their beloved beverage very seriously.
Fortunately, inner-city Brunswick’s newest addition to its lively café culture is good; with coffee to match. Code Black sits neatly within Zwei’s new fitout of an existing double fronted warehouse. It’s a clever insertion that houses the coffee roaster and café in one space and the client’s headquarters in the other.
Entering the public space may take patrons past the servery but their eye is immediately drawn towards the rear, where Code Black’s impressive 20kg coffee roaster resides. Situating the roaster in full display adds an element of theatre, but most importantly it signifies the quality and craftsmanship of the cafe’s product. After all, says Kemp, “Coffee is king at Code Black.”
The interior fitout plays an important role in reinforcing this message and through the use of rich, dark tones a simple, raw aesthetic is expressed. Stained OSB, black steel and concrete complete the material palette, which lends the industrial sensibility an elegant sense of composition. The fitout allows for easy movement and the arrangement of varying dining tables and standing tables attractively and functionally orders the 700sqm space.
What is perhaps the most appealing aspect of Code Black’s design, however, is its thoughtfully considered details. Volker Haug lighting designs punctuate the warmly hued interior, steel side tables are bent and bolted to a brick wall and OSB adds an element of patterning. Zwei has been sure to invest a sense of quality and craftsmanship on both a small and large scale.
Zwei
Photography © Michael Kai
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.
Channelling the enchanting ambience of the Caffè Greco in Rome, Budapest’s historic Gerbeaud, and Grossi Florentino in Melbourne, Ross Didier’s new collection evokes the designer’s affinity for café experience, while delivering refined seating for contemporary hospitality interiors.
The Sub-Zero Wolf showrooms in Sydney and Melbourne provide a creative experience unlike any other. Now showcasing all-new product ranges, the showrooms present a unique perspective on the future of kitchens, homes and lifestyles.
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.
The Interior Space category at the 2023 INDE.Awards showcases a shortlist of outstanding projects that create a beautiful life for the residents on every level.
“The site is the generator of all our ideas,” Sri Lankan architect and INDE.Awards 2019 Ambassador Palinda Kannangara shares how architecture expresses the spirit of the place.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Found within the verdant landscape of Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, Sona Reddy’s design for this authentic Andhra restaurant adeptly fuses textural rhythms with traditional materials.
Woven Image refreshes its popular, multi-award winning Embossed Acoustic Panel collection with a new range of colours that bring warmth and comfort to commercial interiors.
Dallas Rogers, Head of Urban Discipline at the School of Architecture, Design and Planning, University of Sydney, comments on the history of map-making in our cities.
Overcoming pandemic hurdles to redefine guest experiences amidst Sydney’s bustling entertainment precinct, The Darling has undergone a two-year restoration that melds Art Deco interiors with the necessities of hotel living.