Located in Melbourne‘s Elsternwick, Penta is a 125 square metre café designed by the local Architecture & Interior Design Studio Ritz&Ghougassian. A polished grey concrete floor is lightly ground back to expose loose ends of aggregate. Orthogonal concrete elements rise from the floor creating a coffee and waiting station, married with terrazzo clad plinths, which form seating. The walls are clad in a veil of perforated aluminium that folds itself across the creases of the walls, screening the kitchen and a smaller private dining area. Light is balanced within the metallic apertures.
Conceptually interior space is suspended at the horizon line between the two opposing elements of concrete and air. The heaviness of the concrete ground plane is juxtaposed to the mass of nothingness – the perforated metal cladding. Deep cigar leaf coloured leather folds itself loosely over stainless steel rods creating a cushioned finish to the masonry plinths, whilst fern trees dot themselves around the café casting leafy, fibres shadows across interior metal skin.
