Project Brief:

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Torrens Café located on level 1 of Torrens University Australia New Campus in Surry Hills, Sydney, is a simulated café runs by Blue Mountain International Hotel Management School’s Students. The client’s desired outcomes for this project was flexibility and engaging environment, used sustainable product from local supplier, carbon-neutral & circular economy, noise reduction material and included Aboriginal culture in design to welcome both Indigenous student and non-Indigenous student.

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The brief required a full process of design development following extensive research using a narrative board as a fundamental tool. The three main subjects for this project were Torrens University, Blue Mountain and the integration of aboriginal culture into the space. The main design features of this cafe draw on the symbols of aboriginal Iconographies, such as boomerangs, concentric circles, people, stars, and campsite. A café is a place where people gather, it fits perfectly with the meaning of the Campsite symbol.

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Australian native timbers evoke a warm welcome in the cafe, as beautiful and pleasant as the Australian sunset. Waterway benches along the wall and boomerang partitions bring a fun and charming multicultural environment, as well as flexible learning spaces. The cafe was filled with the aroma of freshly ground coffee and the multilingual conversations of students. The indigenous symbols in the design make users feel safe and warm in the space and respect the indigenous culture.

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