Feast of Merit is an initiative by the YGAP charity foundation – a restaurant and bar offering local, ethical and sustainable food and drinks in a space that would encompass the communal nature of the intent. As a pro bono part of the Feast of Merit design team, Ewert Leaf wanted to convert an inefficient and spatially disjointed former café into a corner home for the charity’s new enterprise.

Exposing and washing back all the existing walls, floors and ceilings enhanced the warmth of the space and bi fold windows and low bench seating along Swan Street engage with passing pedestrians.

Extending the and refinishing the existing kitchen, we included an open servery section allowing vision and interaction from the separate dining room with the workings of the restaurant, and the recycled timber clad bench and walls blend seamlessly with exposed bricks walls and steel framing of doorways.

The new bar lines the west wall and addresses the space – reclaimed whitewashed timber sits atop the tiled bar face cutting into recycled shutter screens sourced locally. A selection of recycled timber shutters throughout the space are used to separate seating sections whilst hanging planters and green installations mix with the reclaimed copper pipe back of bar shelving to add a layer of industrial warmth. The light timber joinery throughout the main space and washed out walls gives depth to a formerly dark space, while recycled and locally sourced furniture pieces and donated bespoke light fittings add a layer of subtle colour and tactility.

Street artist Dan Wenn helped capture the essence of the Feast of Merit ideal and to also articulate the corner interface of the building. This addition of colour and movement helps not only restaurant, but reflects the eclectic and evolving feel of the developing area of Richmond.

Being a not for profit organization, and relying on pro bono work and donated services/products meant that a lot of assumptions of timeframe had to be made, and teams had to work well in order to get the project completed. Existing conditions of a run down café always present problems with retro fitting new services, however we were able to work together with the builder, Project Group, to achieve a great result.

The spatial flow of the space needed to link back to the operational intent of the business intent: shared wealth amongst a community. Communal dining spaces and open areas were complimented by an open kitchen; exposing all operation sides and blending the lines between patron and service.

Stripped back materials encompass the raw and genuine concept of Feast of Merit, and splashes of colour give credence to the colourful nature of the communities involved. Ewert Leaf wanted a light, and inviting palette to compliment the tactility of the fittings and fixtures.
All the furniture and lighting was donated by some of YGAP’s benefactors.