Suupaa
Designed by IF Architecture, Suupaa is a hybrid konbini-style store and Japanese restaurant located in Cremorne, Melbourne.
Named after the Japanese word meaning both ‘super’ and ‘supermarket’, this multipurpose venue offers retail, takeaway and dine-in experiences within a unified interior. “We saw Suupaa as a single experience that moves at different speeds,” says Ken Snell, associate at IF Architecture. “It shifts from high-energy retail to a slower, more atmospheric dining space, but always feels connected.”
The retail and takeaway service energises the entry, envisioned as a pared-back konbini with a luminous white palette. A central, fluorescent menu light box hovers above a modular display, where the food packaging becomes part of the design language. Open shelving ties the retail and hospitality zones together, creating visual continuity. “The layout was really important in supporting the different rhythms of the space,” says Snell. “We wanted people to move through it naturally, whether they were grabbing something fast or settling in for a meal. Instead of dividing it up, transitions in tone, lighting and materiality create an intuitive flow.” There is also a servery window that connects directly outside to help with takeaway flow.
Deeper into Suupaa, rich blues anchor the dining area, cultivating a comforting warmth. The kitchen remains visible, offering a sense of theatre and keeping food at the centre of the experience. Soft textiles, timber tables and the gentle glow of contemporary lanterns foster an inviting, relaxed atmosphere. “It’s all about creating contrast without disconnection,” says Snell. “Each part of Suupaa has its own identity, but they work together as one clear, cohesive whole.”
Materials are directly informed by the konbini but are elevated through refinement and restraint at Suupaa. “We looked at how everyday konbini materials like stainless steel and tile could be reimagined to feel more considered, spatial and dynamic,” says Snell. Stainless-steel utilitarian shelving contrasts with organically curved tables that float through the space, and ceramic tiles from Japan anchor the hospitality zones.
Suupaa’s palette draws from goshiki, meaning five colours. Black grounds the floor; blue appears in titles, lacquered shelves and velvet banquettes; yellow brings warmth through timber and pendant lighting; white defines retail signage and graphics; and red adds energy and softness in textile accents like chairs, curtains and blinds.
“Textured paints and stainless steel act like a sixth silvery colour, tying everything together,” says Snell. “Rather than sharp opposites, these contrasts create a balance between tradition and innovation, efficiency and emotion. The space feels lively but composed, playful and precise.” In a fast-evolving neighbourhood like Cremorne, Suupaa reflects a hospitality model that’s contemporary, agile and approachable.
