The dandelion is known worldwide for its beauty; endless fields of yellow veil moving with the breeze, and over time transforming into its wispy arms floating away in the breeze on a warm day.
The story goes, if you can blow all the seeds off a dandelion in a single breath, that the person you love will love you back.
The essence of the dandelion is a touchstone that architects MJA Studio associated with the design and foundations of their client’s venue.
Dandelion is a 700m2 venue including a bar, restaurant, wood-fired kitchen, and distillery.
It talks about the beauty of open space and raw expression within a busy centre environment.
The MJA Studio design team has created a whimsical and enchanting experience, layered across two floors and offerings for all who partake in its splendour.
Two distinct dining and drinking areas flow over the double-storey space.
These are joined by their gradient of colour.
What starts as a fresh, clean, and vibrant pink transforms into an earthy and rich red.
No matter the season, or the time of day, Dandelion is a space that is welcoming, inviting, and comfortably woven into its centre surroundings.
Hand-picked finishes, metallic details, and eclectic edit of colour, texture and pattern come together to cultivate a place for neighbourhood gatherings and genuine hospitality and social exchange.
The craft, expressive detail, and materiality devised by MJA Studio begin as soon as you step through the front door.
Muted, dusty pink tones work harmoniously across various scales and materials to create an open and airy space, delivering a subtle backdrop for the heroes of the space: the copper gin still and the ground floor bar.
The combination of terra cottas, warm wooden veneers, sandalwoods, and Moroccan pink creates a sensation of springtime.
The fibrous seeds of the dandelion are seen in intricate metal fabrics and filigree timber panelling.
Travelling up the main stairwell, the palette draws your eyes to a shift of atmosphere between the lower and upper levels.
The space becomes unapologetically moody and dynamic.
The upper-level colour palette is more autumnal; timber and blacks offset the burnt red ceilings and patterned tiled bar.
The positioning of the chef’s kitchen and wood smoker create an alluring ambience and energy as you approach the bar.
Textured fabrics and delightfully worn leathers help local shoppers who stop for a quick glass of rose, or imbibers that find themselves settling into the lounge by the fire to linger awhile longer.
Delicately detailed wallpapers, stained timbers and worn leathers compliment the flooring, Shaw Dyelab Lac, to furthermore enhance the romantic, fiery, feminine feel of the upper-level bar and dining areas.
An assortment of expressive natural stones are used throughout the space, balanced with the natural, organic feel of concrete griege tiling, warm hand-cut brick slips and Shaw Dyelab carpets underneath.
The varied, natural colourations of the carpet and brick slips evoke a sense of luxury and comfort, whilst also defining break-out areas and curated dining spaces.
The carpet insets work harmoniously with the colour palettes of each floor, whilst also providing a feeling of warmth and providing some acoustic functionality, softening the excited chatter and clinking of cocktail glasses.
Dandelion feels like somewhere you want to linger for hours, settling in as the first glimpse of sunset appears across the balcony above, and settling into the dark, ambient space, unravelling the visual and gastronomic offering it has to offer its visitors.
Project Details
Project Size – 700 m2
Completion Date – 2022
Project Team
Architecture
MJA Studio
MJA is a dynamic and nimble design practice that aims to create happy and healthy buildings that drive positive change in the built environment, exceed the expectations of their clients, and provide tangible community benefits.
The firm operates from Subiaco in Perth and Fitzroy in Melbourne.
The project team included Jimmy Thompson, Matt Middleton, Jess Beaver, and Alex Massara.
Photography
Dion Robeson
Dion is an architectural, interior, and commercial fit-out photographer based in Perth, Western Australia.
Photo Gallery
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Design © 2022 MJA Studio. All Rights Reserved.| Images © 2022 Dion Robeson. All Rights Reserved.
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