GENOVESE COFFEE HOUSE: A Lesson in Balancing Materiality
Introducing Genovese Coffee House, a project brought to life by architectural studio Alexander & Co. by drawing on the materiality of the industrial building, alongside the Genovese Coffee brand's own history. Our role was to highlight the beauty of the rustic, tactile interiors by exploring the balance between rigid raw materials and softer layers of colour and form, to craft a series of spaces that are both hospitable and luxurious.
Architecture and interior design by Alexander & Co. Photography by Anson Smart. Styling by Studio CD.
In Sydney’s Alexandria, an ex-industrial building enters a new era as Genovese Coffee House, a multifunctional hospitality space infused with Italian charm. Sydney-based interior design studio Alexander & Co. pay tribute to the venue’s rich and storied past while simultaneously situating it firmly in the present. With references to both mid-century design and the site’s industrial heritage, the Coffee House is well on track to becoming a new local favourite.
Imagined as a multifunctional space, the Coffee House includes a sit-down cafe, a traditional espresso bar, a cold brew and training bar, the ‘family table’ and various retail displays. You can sip on a macchiato at the espresso bar, grab a breakfast panini in the cafe, or browse Genovese’s range of delicious blends. And if that doesn’t entice you, the space itself certainly will.
“The creative narrative was developed as a result of combining the building’s historic industrial past and location, with a brand positioning which brings Genovese Coffee into Sydney with its first retail offering,” Alexander & Co. director Jeremy Bull says. The shapes, materials and planning of the space were all influenced by the stories and histories of the Genovese family, as well as their ecological and cultural visions of the future. The final design celebrates the life of the building and the life and ongoing legacy of the Genovese family.
The material palette features warm, earthy tones, with accents of burgundy and orange. The atmosphere evoked by these materials is refined yet relaxing; the perfect place to sit and unwind. Moreover, the varying textures – smooth timber, raw linen, course brick – play on the venue’s humble Italian heritage.
STYLING EDIT SUPPLIED BY
Furniture, Art & Decor – Greg Natale, Montmartre Store, Ignem Terrae Ceramics, McMullin & Co., Maison de Vacances, Top 3 by Design, Curatorial & Co., Iittala, Chalk Horse Gallery.