Pure Gold – Au79 Cafe Chadstone by Mim Design

Within the bustling retail complex that is Chadstone Shopping Centre in Melbourne’s south-east, Mim Design has created a haven of calm and contentment. Inspired by Chadstone’s dramatic vaulted glass ceiling, Au79 cafe and bar evokes not only the aesthetic but the tranquil atmosphere of a greenhouse conservatory, enriched with a luxurious materiality that reflects the guiding design pursuit of creating a moment of ‘pure gold’.

Mim Design was responsible for the design of Au79’s first cafe in Abbotsford. Visitors familiar with Au79 Abbotsford will recognise the arched motif, brass details, abundance of greenery, considered materials and serene colour palette that have also been woven throughout this second establishment. It is a testament to the design, however, that these identifying qualities simultaneously speak of the immediate context of Chadstone, creating a calming sense of belonging within the busy atmosphere of Australia’s largest shopping precinct.

Mim Design’s characteristic attention to detail is evident throughout, from the emphasis on flexibility that allows the space to transform for retail, launch, cocktail and fashion events to the interplay of graphic forms and the statement stone bar.

The cafe and bar are neatly delineated so each offers its own experience. The cafe addresses the main retail thoroughfare, providing an inviting spot for shoppers to rest weary feet and enjoy a coffee and bite to eat. A brass space-frame canopy defines this zone to offer a comfortable sense of containment that balances the grand scale of the space at large. Beyond, a perimeter of cascading plants and a suspended series of over-scaled ball pendants define a haven-like intimate bar space, which is oriented towards the luxury retailers.

This emphasis on offering tailored experiences is further underscored by a deliberate shift in mood from day to night. During the day, the space is blessed with plenty of natural light – often sorely lacking in a shopping centre environment – thanks to the glass domed ceiling above. At night, the large pendant lights suspended aloft create an experience that the designers conceived as akin to dining beneath the glow of a full moon.

During the day, the space is blessed with plenty of natural light – often sorely lacking in a shopping centre environment – thanks to the glass domed ceiling above.

Mim Design’s characteristic attention to detail is evident throughout, from the emphasis on flexibility that allows the space to transform for retail, launch, cocktail and fashion events to the interplay of graphic forms and the statement stone bar. The studio’s love of rich and tactile materiality is on full display here, extending from this luxurious marble front bar to the wider palette of terrazzo, stone, brick and leather.

With a strong family resemblance to the original cafe in Abbotsford, balanced by an abounding appreciation for its milieu, Au79 is a refined and considered destination dedicated to an appreciation for the finer things in life.