Black is back in a big way at the de-facto headquarters of Melbourne coffee in the suburb of Brunswick; it’s infused into the fabric of the building like a well-prepared shot of espresso. Code Black is a venue of two halves, housing a coffee shop on one side and the administration and distribution arm of Cafenatics on the other, but both use black as the base from which all other elements jump.
Design firm Zwei took on the double-fronted warehouse project, using black steel as the framework for a pumped up interior which is both high-energy and low-light. Stained chipboard adds to the rough and tough atmosphere, while yellow spots pierce the moodiness from the ceiling. The brewing process and preparation areas are all left open to view to the customer, and the two sides to the business are similarly accessible, flowing into each other with no break in the aesthetic. A strong piece of work.
Photography, Michael Kai
