Platform 3 is situated in the heart of the century old, Box Hill Centro Shopping Centre. The client sought to offer a public space with character that offers homage to the industrial feats of the area.
Third Award | RTFA 2014 Awards
Category: Interior Commercial Built
Participant Name: Vincent Choi
Country: Australia
The client requested the creation of a bistro with a strong character, which was to stand out from the image of the other retail stores in the area. The restaurant was to serve as a meeting place that expressed vibrancy with a casual and welcoming feel.
The project was conceived as a metaphorical waiting lounge located above the train platforms, this new ‘platform’ offers a transit room for commuters. The idea was to create a unique place that locals could relate to. The three frontages that needed to be addressed were an obstacle. However, the site constraints also served as an opportunity to utilize the atypical multi-faceted area. To achieve the desired spatial experience, the stature of the ceiling was maximized by removing the false ceiling. The bones of the original building was exposed to achieve a height of 5.2 meters, providing the framework for the new spaces below.
The seating arrangement was arranged in an open plan layout and paired with long timber tables of up to 4 meters long. The design is a celebration of the rawness and sustainability of materials. Old railway hardwood timber, recycled messmate timber and recycled warehouse bricks were implemented throughout the tenancy and assisted in reaching the construction budget.
The boundaries between what is perceived as public and private domains were challenged in this project resulting in a outcome that engages its users in an unconventional way. The characteristics of sharing space and the notion of being in a congested railway station has been brought to the dinner experience. The unusual seating arrangement of four long, communal benches was designed to encourage people to share tables. The intension of this design was to create a “market feel” and reinforces the casual dining theme. This also maximized the seating capacity. The idea of a group of patrons sharing the same dinner table is to resemble the shared seating space inside the train cabin.
