Bar Monte Newstead most predominantly develops the friendly post-war Italian cafe aesthetic with the refinement and cleanliness of Italian Rationalism. Our colour palette stayed quite loyal to those of the typical post-war Italian cafe: a broad spectrum of deep browns, burgundies and ochres were accompanied by baby blue accented tiles, structural beams and dining chairs.
We sought to find a deep level of comfort and intimacy within a highly rational and geometric framework, a space that feels at home, detailed and considered, but also striking in its monumentality and its rawness. These types of spaces are easy for the mind to resolve, to make sense of and hence to soften into.
Combining both styles (above) from early to mid 1900’s was a balance of both intimacy and refinement in material selection. Spotted gum, its deep soft warmth, against high gloss glazed ceramic tiles in three spectacularly muted colours - all modestly strewn over a grand structure. Custom-made spotted gum banquettes adorned with coloured geometric patterns snake the ground floor, finding cosy spots and cheeky corners.
Restaurant venues must strike a productive balance between natural and artificial light - as service drifts into night a space transitions to an entirely new scene. As such, we can count on natural light for some scenes, but must produce a well orchestrated lighting design to compliment the space dusk and beyond.
