Hasta La Ideas

Melbourne design studios Right Angle and Foolscap have created a temporary canteen, market and cinema in a former piano factory that until recently was the home of Australian television broadcaster Channel 9.

Despite being named Richmond Weekender, the event is taking place throughout March and occupies several rooms inside the abandoned building as well as the courtyard outside.

Tables and benches constructed from scaffolding, oriented strand board and wooden slats furnish the cafe, while light bulbs hang from above inside yellow cages.

Inside the cinema, felt carpet is folded around a framework of wood and foam to create comfortable seating.

Once the residency is over, developer Lend Lease will convert the building into a block of apartments.

Photography is by Martina Gemmola.

Here’s some more information from the designers:

The Richmond Weekender

After the success of The Doghouse project in Sydney, Right Angle Studio and Foolscap Studio have paired up again for the conception and implementation of The Richmond Weekender.

Running for the month of March, this ‘pop up’ space has been spurred on by owners Lendlease who want to activate the site prior to it becoming luxury apartments intermixed with retail environments. The result is an exciting and vibrant temporal space.

Expressing the temporal nature of the project and the space in which it inhabits, the materials reference ideas of construction, packing and unpacking.

Custom made seating has been created for the cinema, which are clad with felt carpet underlay and foam to create a comfortable seat to kick back in and watch a film.

Orientated strand board and scaffolding structures form cafeteria style seating and tables in the café.

Blue rubber carpet underlay lines a scaffolding structure which creates the cinema space.

Adornment of the cinema is created by blue geometric blob like structures which drop from the ceiling in the cinema enlightening the senses further as they waft out earthy scents

Hessian lines the outdoor fencing, incorporating small pockets for plants to sit within.

Lighting within the café notions towards festival festoon lighting, which has been adorned with yellow cages. A nod towards the construction site within which the space is nestled into.

Design Director: Adele Winteridge
Interior Designer: Linda Raimondo
Interior Designer: Kate Archibald
Student Interior Designer: Natalie Ailima