Hunters’ Roots is a café located in Melbourne CBD focusing on healthy food and freshly made juices. The brief was to design an interior to match their concept of simple, fresh and natural, as well as to ensure their patrons have an enjoyable visit.

The clients’ café concept directed us to use vegetable crates as the design inspiration. It seemed logical to use a container for fresh fruits and vegetables to create a space where they serve food and drink made from fresh ingredients.

The form of a vegetable crate was simplified and developed into an abstract form. Series of abstract crates have been randomly positioned throughout the premise, including under the ceiling and on the walls. Some of the crates that are suspended from the ceiling contain light fittings and form part of the light features. The light coming through the crates and with their shadow casted, creates further interest in the space. The crates positioned on the walls form display shelving and cupboards. Small green pot plants are placed on the wall shelving to fill the place with warmth and earthiness.

The decision to simplify and turn the crate form into an abstract form was made to create some extent of ambiguity. It is intended to trigger patrons’ imagination. Some may see the hanging crates as fruits on branches, some may see them as series of fruit peels and others may feel like being in a cave. We hope this playful three dimensional artwork adds to patrons’ experience enjoying the fresh and healthy food Hunters’ Roots serve.

I run an artisan wood workshop in the European tradition in Melbourne, Australia.The photographer Reimund Zunde created a photo essay, "Arteveneta_Laboratorio di Legno" expressing aspects of our ethos. View it on zundesign.com.au

This project started after I collaborated with Kei Katayama of DCM (Denton Corker Marshall) on another restaurant project ‘Izakaya Den’ also in the Melbourne CBD. There an ancient Japanese technique was adopted, using heavily charred timber as the finish.

Kei then approached me with ‘Hunters Roots’, a completely different project, where the brief was based around old fruit crates.

The ceiling of which is the point in case. There is a total of 65 custom made ‘crates’ hanging from the ceiling.

The overall feel of the place was to be of lightness both in theory and in material. Due to the minimal 30m2 size of the space, the detailing was also of great importance.

In order to facilitate the brief of upside down ‘fruit crates’ hanging from the ceiling, I had to source a timber light enough and strong enough to create the finger join detail, whilst not imposing an over engineered hanging system.

For this I used Paulownia, technically a hardwood but extremely light in weight and in colour, allowing for a very simple hanging system. Yet, still capturing the feel of upside down fruit crates.

The remainder of the fit out is using American Rock Maple, this for it’s hard wearing properties, yet with an identical colour of the Paulownia, allowing both timbers to be used in harmony.

In keeping with the organic theme of Hunters Roots, both the timbers used in the project are FSC certified.