An intimate bar in the middle of a working factory, the bar separate from – but remaining clearly connected to – the industrial activity surrounding it. This was the desire of Di Mase Architects’ client, Matilda Bay Brewing Company, for their new tasting bar in Port Melbourne.

Re-imagining space is a key focus for their practice, Di Mase Architects, and a cozy, intimate bar on a working factory floor was a challenging and exciting brief. Their aim was to design a space that supports the leading edge of experience marketing; a space with a strong focus on the story of the client’s brand and product. The ‘Brewer’s Canteen’ does just this. It is a space indistinguishable from the story of Matilda Bay; a bar of and for the makers of craft beer.

Di Mase Architects’ design response was inspired both by the passion displayed by brewers for their craft and by the playful, mischievous identity of the brand. Matilda Bay beer is a high quality product, but it’s not posh; the tongue-in-cheek character of the brand makes this craft beer accessible to a broad audience. The ‘Brewers’ Canteen’ concept was a direct response to this, forming a core element of the brand’s experience marketing.

Di Mase Architects’ approach started with the concept of the brewers building their own canteen, and then inviting their friends around to taste their efforts. To achieve this, they chose to draw on the materials of the surrounding brewery: stainless steel, timber, old bricks, cable trays, industrial lighting and heating. All of these materials were pulled

closely together, creating a sense of concentration, of density, in contrast to the vastness of the factory. Decked out with laminate topped tables, industrial-inspired original furniture pieces, and custom chandeliers by Volker Haug, the Brewers’ Canteen conveys a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere, whilst embracing its location on a working factory floor.

The site is in an industrial area not frequented by passing foot traffic, so it was important to create a unique hospitality experience to attract new and repeat patrons. Achieving this required careful mediation between the needs of a working brewery and those of a hospitality venue. Workplace health and safety for staff on both sides of this divide was a key concern, as was the safety of patrons. From the outset, the design fully embraced the OH&S implications as a tool in the design, rather than a hindrance. As such, their handcrafted design involved an innovative barrier of low brick walls, crash barriers, open steel fencing and a bright yellow ‘safety zone’ floor finish. The need for glass to separate the two environments was avoided, and the patrons of Matilda Bay were afforded a genuine sense of immersion.

The Brewers Canteen is both ad hoc and carefully constructed. It may all look very simple, but creating simplicity, while also fostering a sense of authenticity is not as simple as it looks. Honest to its industrial roots, Di Mase Architects have created an environment that is industrial and homely, authentic and on-brand. It is interior architecture delivering meaning through genuine experience.