Café Stationside is a study in contrast—where raw industrial elements meet moments of warmth and refinement. Set within a mid-century brick and steel structure, the project is defined by a deep respect for its original materiality, carefully balancing preservation with intervention. The design approach celebrates the building’s industrial robustness, embracing its role as a witness to the constant movement of trains and commuters while simultaneously reimagining it as a welcoming, layered hospitality venue.
The façade plays a crucial role in defining the café’s relationship with the street. The introduction of expansive lift-up steel windows dissolves barriers between inside and out, inviting engagement from pedestrians and station-goers. A continuous bench along the window provides a front-row seat to the life of the street, reinforcing the café’s role as a community hub. A timber-lined entry port leads patrons into the space, filtering movement through a decorative screen that subtly reveals the lounge beyond.
Within, the interior unfolds in a series of zones, each tailored to different dining experiences. High bench seating near the entry offers a vibrant setting for casual visitors, while the generously proportioned food and drinks bar becomes a central anchor, offering both street-facing service and a seamless transition to the commercial kitchen beyond. Further into the space, a wood-burning fireplace serves as a focal point, its flickering warmth defining a more intimate, lounge-like atmosphere.
Materiality plays a crucial role in shaping the café’s identity. The existing steel and concrete structure is left exposed, its raw presence softened by warm timber elements and richly textured surfaces. A polished concrete floor acts as a neutral foundation, allowing the interplay of brick walls, ceramic tiles, and mirrored elements to take centre stage. The bar itself is a striking composition of coloured tiles and reflective surfaces, introducing a sense of vibrancy while nodding to thecafé’s industrial past.
Furnishings and styling, curated by the owners, reinforce the project’s layered character. Custom steel windows frame ever-changing urban views, while reclaimed materials—including barbed-wire pendant lights—introduce a sense of history and playfulness. The result is a space that simultaneously respects its heritage and embraces its new identity, creating a café that is as much about experience as it is about architecture.
SustainabilityConsiderations
Café Stationside is a testament to how adaptive reuse can drive sustainability, minimising waste while enhancing long-term environmental performance. The project’s core strategy was to retain as much of the existing structure as possible, significantly reducing demolition waste and the need for new materials. By preserving the concrete slab, steel framework, and core spatial layout, the design ensures that the embodied energy of the original building is maximised rather than discarded.
By balancing heritageretention with environmental responsiveness, A Café, Stationside demonstratesthat sustainable design is not just about new technologies but aboutintelligent adaptation—preserving the past while shaping a more efficient andenduring future.
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