A gentrifying catchment with a diverse cultural profile represented the opportunity for an expanded fresh food offer at Belmont Forum in Perth, WA. Anchored by an existing Coles and Woolworths, this newly opened precinct now includes fresh local seafood, a second store for an iconic Perth butcher with a cult following for American style BBQ, a large market style Green Grocer, bakery and Asian BBQ speciality, a design make over for an exisiting popular Asian grocer, plus a tiny jewel in the crown provided by La Belle Patisserie which appeared to go into overdrive the minute the first cronuts and croissants were taken out of the oven on opening morning.
Engaged by The Perron Group to create 'welcome statements' and another layer of interest to this new fresh food precinct, POD commissioned beautiful solid oak ladders, pallets and wheelbarrows for the purpose of telling food stories based around this vibrant new retail mix. The custom visual merchandising combined faux and fresh along with locally sourced vintage props. Wheelbarrows filled with produce 'fresh from the veggie patch' promoted all retailers, added an element of fun for this family focused market, and tied in with the citrus and herb garden in the new outdoor children's playground, located just off the precinct.
Sincere thanks to the Perron development team headed by Graeme Glass, JLL's Alexandra McAuliff and Kate Whytelaw (a human dynamo who made the 6 months of tenancy consultancy and onsite delivery totally seamless - grateful beyond words), Simone Pirovich and her Work Shop Dine team, Dean Jones & Michael Bushby from Vicinity Centres plus all the wonderful retailers who gave us their trust and came on the design and delivery journey to bring this precinct to fruition.
Concepts, creative and delivery by POD.
#belmontforum #freshfoodprecinct #placemaking #visualmerchandising #retaildetail #designlayers #theperrongroup
The Margaret River Chocolate Company has opened a rather stunning new store in Perth. A heritage space on Murray Street has been transformed by architect Paul Burnham to yeild a slick showcase for all good foodie things from the Margaret River region. Pics via PBA.
Little people made from tape tell you which door you need to disappear behind (love the fragile tape for the female loos - hilarious). So many retailers/restaurateurs seem to scrimp on the bathrooms. Not so at Venn where a lovely bathroom awaits when you push open the door.
Ah what a joy it is to discover a brilliant foodie destination. It's definitely upper end (a quick squizz around the car park suggests driving a BMW is mandatory ... but really I think you could roll up on a bicycle and fit right in). Fresh seafood, a bakery and florist sit nicely alongside an abundance of fresh produce. I thought the deli counter was a stand out, likewise the salt brick beef display (personally tagged beef being aged for birthdays and anniversary gifts - v. impressive - in all my travels I had not seen that before!). The Boatshed was a deliciously memorable destination that almost made me wish I lived in Perth.
My gorgeous foodie friends in the West (Perth) and I seem to connect over steak. As fortune would have it, last year our paths crossed in Florence (Italy) and we all drooled together over a succulent Bistecca Florentina at Trattoria Mario, an authentic worker's bar/bistro (located just off the main square at San Lorenzo Market) which has been there for half a century or more. A few months ago we got together again, this time in a butcher shop where quality and simplicity sit very nicely with the steaks and seasonal vegetables. Just like the Trattoria, Torre has also been around for more than half a century and somehow I managed to get a tour of the cool room / back of house without asking (just like I did at Mario's)! I can't explain why, but this just seems to happen without me asking (and as it is happening the talking bubble over my head generally reads like this... "WTF?" "It's happening again" "This is hilarious" "I love this blogging caper!"). How could I resist David's smile and super friendly personality? If that doesn't win you over the product will - it's quality all the way. Torre Butchers, Northbridge, Perth.
I'm really looking forward to heading West in October for the Design Institute WA Chapter's Annual Forum, having a snoop around Perth and having dinner at Cantina 663 and The Greenhouse again!
At long last Canberra has a new airport. I spotted these shiny new 'gas bottle' lights at Hudson's Coffee on my way home last week. I wonder if the designer took their inspiration from Joost Bakker who made a whole lot of bowls from recycled old gas bottles for his Greenhouse restaurant on St Georges Terrace in Perth?
I don't know these people but I feel like I do after watching this. So much fun! Check it out here on YouTube. Video by photographers Bayly & Moore (Perth, Western Australia). via Design Sponge.
