The project's brief called for a black and white interior in keeping with the Swiss head office Corporate Identity guidelines. Previous iterations of the CI appeared harsh and out of context with Australian consumer’s expectations and the intended user experience. Our Australian client asked us to 'warm it up' and give it a more local context whilst adhering to the black and white parameters.

Customers visit the showroom to select product and attend dining experiences where they see the product in action so the dining area was key to setting the mood. Making a black and white kitchen a relaxed dining experience presents some challenges so the two colours were deliberately separated. Working areas recede without diminishing the all important product which stand out through the high gloss mirror finish and dining areas are white and pristine leaving the consumer with a feeling of freshness. Timber, felt and woven rope backrests on the dining chairs contribute a familiarity through their simple materials and warmth. The intention is to draw an intimate ‘home-like’ dining experience for the customers.

A secondary use as an event space required the environment to be adaptable. A glass wall can be stowed away behind a menu blackboard to open up the kitchen/dining area or enclose it for smaller gatherings. Modular islands in the showroom can be moved to increase floor space when required.

The budget was limited so paint became an important tool. We incorporated simple materials and applied lining board texture and blackboard paint, using the two opposite colours of black and white to highlight areas of interest. This allowed the product to be the hero rather than the interior, and to subtly direct the customer’s attention to key areas.

Another challenge to this exercise was dealing with a large and unappealing existing ceiling that could not be removed. We achieved a great result by 'receding' it through painting it black and suspending a white 'landing strip' ceiling to focus attention on the product area. Lighting was also matched to ceiling colour across the black and white areas to avoid emphasis on fittings.

The kitchen also achieves a more friendly feel due to separating black and white sections into colour blocks. This prevents a messy checkerboard effect, allowing the eye to rest and helps achieve a comfortable, relaxed customer experience.

Leather and timber details and some herb planters helped achieve the more relaxed feel of the showroom to encourage a ‘home-like’ environment.

Location: Kew, Victoria, Australia
Photo Credit: Tatjana Plitt