As a starting point, the Plantation brand invoked associations with the colonial era– leafy coffee plantations and ornate architecture. As these ideas were discussed and matured the team grappled with translating them into the at the GPT Group’s Melbourne Central Dining Hall environment. Our focus became the customer experience. We aimed to inject tactility and warmth into the space.

We set out to reference the forms and patterns of our colonial inspiration and to use hand-crafted components to underline the hand-made quality of Plantation’s coffee and food. The design integrates contemporary references to colonial architecture, such as the refined timber and tile shopfront and the series of arches running along the length of the space. The striking red and white tile floor alludes to the deep, shady balconies of plantation houses.

The material choices: natural stone, timber and copper joinery and hand-forged steel facade doors; are integral to the final aesthetic of the space. We worked with artisan ‘NMH Metalwork’ and joiners ‘Simsite’ and ‘Goodsir & Otto’ to achieve a high quality result.

The Plantation coffee experience needed to be educational, but not intimidating or exclusionary. The store layout encourages customer interaction with alternative coffee making methods such as pour over and cold-drip coffee. A custom-made cold-drip coffee dividing wall brings occupants into close contact with the product and an’aroma station’ adds a sensory experience to the retail area. For many it will be a new way to experience coffee.

Barbara and Fellows is emerging as fresh talent in the Melbourne design scene – one which values highly personalised results through close working collaborations with business owners, performers, artists, makers and designers. Their shared aim is to produce design outcomes which are intelligent, considered, and instinctive with a healthy dose of delight.