Location: Adelaide, SA
Architect: Sans-Arc
Completed: 2024
Products used: Cork Essence Originals Natural
The project:
In a part of Adelaide dominated by medical centres and low-rise offices sits Sofia Bistro – a light-filled diner that reflects the warmth, generosity, and hospitality of its namesake. Offbeat architect and design studio Sans-Arc used muted tones and a healthy dose of cork to create a cosy backdrop for the art, food, and people inside.
The brief:
Co-owners Josh Baker and John Savva shared a dream of an understated, welcoming bistro that could serve the surrounding pocket of Adelaide’s CBD. The brief asked for an adaptive reuse of an ’80s commercial building, transforming its ground floor into an all-day diner that opens to the street.
It was imperative that the material selections reflect the warmth and comfort they were after to ground the bistro in honest, tactile finishes. Above all, the space needed to feel like a gathering place first and an eatery second. Light-filled and hospitable, not dissimilar to the design approach Sans-Arc had developed with the pair on their previous project, Part Time Lover.
The solution:
Sans-Arc nominated Cork Essence Originals Natural as the heart of the material palette. Warm, tactile, and beautiful, cork’s organic texture and tonal warmth echo the generosity and hospitality the bistro was built to embody.
In a long, linear dining room divided into three interconnected spaces, cork absorbs the hum of a busy service, keeping the atmosphere convivial rather than chaotic. Paired with terrazzo and concrete, the cork grounds Sofia Bistro in an earthy, understated richness that feels as comfortable at breakfast as it does over a late dinner.
Need inspiration for your next project? Take a look at our gallery to see how your favourite products will suit your space. Our collection includes a range of natural cork, engineered and solid timber floors, and wall coverings.
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