French designer Anne-Sophie Poirier, who is based in Melbourne and is known as Sasufi, took charge of the interior design and construction, as well as the graphic design for the identity and menu, of the distinctive “Slowpoke Espresso” café in the city of Melbourne, which serves coffee and meals made with organic produce.
The dominant feature of the “Slowpoke” interior is a 12-metre-long wall made from pieces of wood collected from various local furniture makers.
The variety of the wooden pieces that make up the wall adds depth and warmth to the space, making it feel more familiar to visitors.
At various points along the timber cladding, unevenly placed boards serve as shelves holding useful containers for condiments, sugar and so on.
The counters and the timber tabletops at Slowpoke Café are made from recycled parquet flooring, while many of the other pieces of furniture and decorative accessories (light fittings, tiles, signs) were bought at local flea markets.
The available budget was quite small, so the designer’s challenge was to create a cosy, comfortable and welcoming space with a strong, distinctive identity, without requiring a large investment.
The white walls of the space set off the timber wall even more, highlighting its leading role in the character of the café.
The “Slowpoke” cards are made from recycled cardboard and are even cut and stamped by hand.
The shop sign is lit from within by a bulb charged by a solar collector mounted on the sign’s timber frame.
Source: www.dezeen.com
Photographs: www.sasufi.net
Text – Editing: Natasa Lianopoulou
