Sir Osborn is an East Melbourne Cafe specialising in catering & delicious coffee! The brand is a perfect example of chicken before the egg (the famous Orica House being the chicken), whereby Hot Black were engaged to develop Sir Osborn’s visual identity and interior to be in line with the building’s rich history. Formally known as ICI House, the building was begun in 1955 and was the tallest building in Australia upon completion in 1958. It was a symbol of progress, modernity and corporate power in a post war Melbourne.
Sat below 18 levels of commercial office space, this cafe concept needed to cater for the everyday staff that entered the building, as well as those who stumbled across it on the cusp of the CBD. The design intent of the interior draws from the ‘less is more’ and ‘purity of form’ principles typical of modern architecture. The space needed to be inviting, yet professional and aligned with the rest of the building’s identity. The colour palette draws its inspiration from the building’s raw materials of brick and ceramic tiles. The muted terracotta injects colour into an otherwise restrained interior colour palette.
Intricately laced in greenery, this café welcomes the outside in and celebrates its home amongst Melbourne icons such as the Carlton Gardens and Parliament House.
Sitting below 18 levels of commercial office space, the concept needed to cater for the everyday staff that entered the building, as well as those who stumbled across it on the cusp of the CBD.