A Community-Minded Space to Gather

To the thriving food scene in Melbourne’s western suburb of Footscray comes Gathered, a bustling and spirited community cafe designed by Ewert Leaf

Set in an industrial streetscape along Footscray’s Maribyrnong river, Gathered harnesses the qualities of its 19th-century warehouse setting to deliver an uplifting and sincere hospitality experience. The site’s industrial character is gently layered with new interventions that give warmth and approachability, carving a new identity for the historic site as a community-minded space.

Gathered is the latest project by Sam and Celeste Gant, the couple behind catering and event businesses Pot & Pan, mixed-use events warehouse Gather & Tailor and furniture and props hire enterprise Pepper Sprout Hire Company. The Gants called on local firm Ewert Leaf to craft a cafe destination that would celebrate locally sourced seasonal produce and contribute to the spirit of Footscray. The site sits within a larger industrial precinct of co-working spaces, offices and an active makers hub, giving an immediate and inherent community atmosphere that was a driving force for the design. ‘We wanted to create a kind of retreat with that innate feeling of being at home,’ lead designer Ana Calic explains.

With grand cathedral-like windows, raw steel columns and six-metre-high ceilings, the site presented a rich architectural canvas, though thoughtful consideration was needed to create a sense of intimacy and comfort. ‘We developed a narrative around restraint, authenticity and time,’ says Calic. ‘There’s an understated and pared-back approach that ensures the qualities of the warehouse aren’t overshadowed.’

Indeed, the reduced palette of honest finishes, including crown-cut oak, antique brass and leather sits in harmony with the site’s raw material profile. With no direct outlook, the space has an intentionally inward focus that emphasises the architecture and increases the sense of intimacy and seclusion.

An oak-lined coffee counter draws visitors to the heart of the warehouse, where leather banquettes line the perimeter. A broad dining area is furnished with Thonet bentwood chairs and oak cafe tables that hark back to traditional European cafe culture. Blackened steel pendants, brass signage and carved stone sculptures provide a contemporary counterbalance, while the rigidity of the building envelope is softened by sheer linen drapery that tempers natural light.

Refined oak joinery takes cues from modernist furniture, framing the activity of the kitchen pass in a single gesture, and handmade mosaics are complemented by accents of fluted glass and antique brass, creating an interior overlaid with tactility and craft. Whether you’re nestling with a book or sharing plates over an open dining table, Gathered maintains an atmosphere of coherence and warmth; a place for gatherings, large or small.

Text / Hayley Curnow
Images / Jenah Piwanski