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A boozy bakery inspired by Grease, Eric Clapton and Joshua Tree

A boozy bakery inspired by Grease, Eric Clapton and Joshua Tree

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Housed within a former noodle bar, Bad Love Club (BLC) is a new boozy bakery in Footscray, located in Melbourne’s inner western suburbs, that approached architecture and interiors practice BOARCH with an unusual brief.

What was the brief?

Our clients came to use with one hell of a brief, we were asked to imagine the space where Frenchy and Rizzo (from Grease) have a wild love affair and end up hanging out with Eric Clapton in Joshua Tree. What a fantastic challenge and reality we wanted to make tangible.

In addition to the aspirations of our clients, BLC needed to provide an inviting atmosphere that connected with the Footscray community, would help ensure repeat visits as well as providing a safe, functional working and baking environment. All of which needed to be achieved within a finite budget.

Interior of BLC by BOARCH

What were the key challenges?

We didn’t have great bones to work with. The existing shop front was within a neglected strip mall between a busy road and car park. This presented many design challenges around how to create an inviting destination that could transition from the day to night program of bagels and coffee in the mornings, and paired cocktails and desserts in the evening, while also attracting passing pedestrians and vehicular traffic.

There was of course the not so small design challenge of making the Frenchy, Rizzo and Eric Clapton rendezvous real.

Interior shot of Bad Love Club

What were the solutions?

In conceiving the setting for such a romance, the project came to light through considering the following influences; mirages, the specificity of the Californian desert, the otherworldly flora of Joshua Tree and the comforting American diner.

These references have been interpreted in the design through vivid pink and maroon coloured bands that wrap the rear wall alluding to the desert landscape. These tones contrast like the contrast of sky and ground within the desert vista and give a sun ripened feel.

The strangely transparent and otherworldly green “tree” structures allow for hanging plants, creating a new field of flora, while the placement of mirrors and perforated materials create qualities of a mirage, reflecting new vistas, illusions of depth and amplify the field of steel trees.

Booth seating and colour blocking rift on the interiors of the classic American Diner.

Tree detail by Bad Love Club

Dense seating was located next to the corner windows, providing views to and between people. The main entrance and service window are highlighted to invite and facilitate wayfinding. A variety of atmospheres were achieved by fixed and loose seating differentiated by the trees, giving diners choice around where to perch, sit for a date or settle in and dwindle the night away.

The project needed to announce BLC to passing pedestrians and cars. Colour was used strategically to create points of attraction such as the front entry, takeaway side window and corner illuminated signage, signalling BLC is waiting to serve the neighbourhood.

Photography by Armelle Habib

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