Melbourne brutalist

Located in Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Village, a block from the city’s central business district, the coarse concrete walls and blocky forms echo the appearance of local of brutalist architecture. Inspired by the shapes and material palette of brutalist architecture, Studio Goss decided to line the majority of the store in rough concrete stucco.

Kloke’s founders Amy and Adam Coombes wanted the second store to mirror the pared-back and sculptural aesthetic of their brand’s clothes. An asymmetric cubic volume descends from the ceiling to form a faux skylight, complemented by angular recesses in the walls that have also been fitted with lights. “The aim was to convey a sense of mass, as if the space had been carved out as a single, sculptural object,” said studio founder David Goss.

Smooth concrete has been used to craft chunky display stands, one of which has been embossed with the brand’s logo, and a curved cash register. Touches of warmth are provided by panels of Australian mahogany that border the shop’s front glazed wall and timber storage drawers, while further textural interest is added by leafy potted plants that have been placed in the room’s corners.

Photography is by Rory Gardiner