Melbourne, Australia's former Pentridge Prison is now Pentridge Village, a housing and shopping complex with a cafe that's a celebration of economy—and design freedom.
Photography by Martina Gemmola via Biasol Design Studio.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Above: The restaurant is the work of Biasol Design Studio of Melbourne, who told us: "We wanted to bring life to the site and allow it to move on from its dark past." Working with a tight budget, they channeled that life by using plywood paneling and structural timbers inset here and there with playful triangles of color.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Above: The triangular fretwork continues on the ceiling, which is hung with Nud Collection pendant lights with Plumen bulbs: see World's Most Stylish Light Bulb.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Above: The custom tables and stools are also made of plywood. Greenery added throughout softens the angularity.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Above: DIY idea: a wall pendant created with wooden pegs and extra-long cloth cording ending in a simple socket. (For more pendants sources, see our Design Sleuth posts on the Color Cord Company and Wrk-Shp.)
Three of the walls are concrete—the designers used an Australian product called Rockcote
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Above: The pastel palette is peppered with touches of black.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Above: The restaurant sign is made of CNC-milled plywood backlit with LED lights.
Jury is in the Melbourne suburb of Coburg.
Go to Social Experiment: 28 Posti in Milan to see an architect-designed restaurant fitted out by inmates. And, on Gardenista, go to Orange is the New Green to see a prison garden on Rikers Island.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
More Stories from Remodelista