Project Team

design: Foolscap Studios

The site’s previous use was a Mechanics workshop, which directly fed into the Italian garage ideal.

As an extension of the Italian garage ideal, the space needed to reflect the values of Italian family lifestyle, centering around the idea of food and family. The space is designed to be accommodating and generous : catering for intimate dining spaces for couples, whilst communal tables cater to larger groups for a shared dining experience. The upstairs mezzanine is the ‘lounge room’ to relax by the fire, emulating a familiar warmth and feeling of family.

The space was the result of a great collaboration with some local contractors and designers. Life Space Journey in conjunction with Foolscap designed the custom black wax steel wall lights, and overhead lights connecting to the printed custom bus seats.

The space was zoned to cater for different dining experiences. The communal table or areas under the pergolas can accommodate a gathering of friends, as well as couples wanting an intimate night-out. The mezzanine allows groups or couples to gather and share a meal by the warmth of the fire. While the smaller tables along the bar area allow for an efficient, informal coffee or snack over lunch.

The diversity of these spaces coupled with the drama of an open kitchen and bar means the customer is a guest, but included amongst the everyday workings of the venue.

The reuse of materials from the former space helped reinforce and celebrate the area’s industrial past and the unique craftsmanship it bore. Peg board was used as a direct reference to the walls of mechanics workshops, whilst existing large blue and white expressive signage remains to clad the upstairs office.  Zinc and concrete were materials heavily used as a throwback to the industrial area, and existing jarrah floorboards have been re-appropriated to create skirting and cladding on the walls.

The feature of blue (azure) and white throughout the space references the Mediterranean, with a collection of hand painted tiles lining the front bar and table tops in the vegetated courtyard. Complimentary glazed grey and white bricks were used for the large pizza oven, working up to the fireplace on the mezzanine level. 

Industrial enamel lighting, formally from an Army barrack, was sourced through Angelucci, whilst ceramic pendant lights tied in the theme of humble hand-cast pieces throughout the space.