Images courtesy of Zwei.

Situated in a repurposed double fronted Brunswick warehouse is Code Black, a café roastery that takes coffee as seriously as local practice Zwei takes design.

This versatile space provides a headquarters for Cafenatics – the company behind Code Black, a public coffee outlet and a new roasting operation. “Code Black is simultaneously a laboratory, a workshop and a hub for connoisseurs of the dark art and science of coffee. Its design delivers a stripped back, masculine, almost reverential ode to the coffee bean,” states Zwei, the award-winning designers behind this project.

A brooding black exterior leads into a masculine industrial space.

Zwei is a Brunswick based interiors and architectural practice, founded by Hanna Richardson and Katharine Kemp in 2006. This multidisciplinary team specialise in hospitality and retail spaces; believing in the creation of authentic, sensory experiential spaces with a strong narrative and a sense of personality.

Applying this ethos, Zwei have created a transparent, cohesive environment for Code Black; allowing visitors to not just enjoy an excellent coffee, but also obtain a behind-the-scenes look at the coffee industry.

The exterior of the space offers a literal visual interpretation of the name, Code Black. A brooding black exterior leads into an overtly masculine industrial space. Black walls, dark concrete flooring, black wire frame furniture extend the theme, with a touch of wood, OSB panelling and metal to provide visual and textural variety. The interior is monochromatic and stylish, with a strategic application of lighting used to accentuate the central counter and exposed structural elements.

Juxtaposing materials, stained OSB against dark painted brick and concrete flooring

Upon entering the space, the eye is immediately drawn beyond the initial area to the rear of the space, where Code Black’s sizeable coffee roaster stands proudly in full display, signifying the quality and craftsmanship of the establishment’s product. This adds a theatrical yet functional element to the overall space, further emphasising that coffee is paramount at Code Black.

Zwei has worked closely with Code Black to express their approach to coffee and hospitality, providing a smart, functional space to support the business’s multiple operations, with a slick interior to appeal to the most discerning brunch hunters.

codeblackcoffee.com.au

zwei.com.au