Westpoint Fresh Food

The project began in late 2017 when i2C’s Interior Studio were engaged by QIC to revitalise the design of the Fresh Food Precinct at Westpoint Shopping Centre in Blacktown, NSW.

The brief was to create a space that people could meander through, slowing down the pace and encouraging customers to stay in the centre longer. The precinct was not a conventional food court as it only had a few dedicated food kiosks. The experience became more about refuge and interaction between people.

The existing space had a lot of design potential as it was situated within a four storey atrium filled with natural light. The vision for the precinct was to create a Mediterranean inspired piazza with white brick architecture, timber accents and silvery-green foliage throughout. The design was intended to be versatile for all users incorporating communal tables for larger groups, individual seating with USB access for people wanting to relax and recharge on their own, comfort for older patrons and a kid’s play area with lounge seating for parents.

Challenges

Curved forms including the brickwork and tiled seating elements were a fundamental feature throughout the design. Collaboration with the client, builder, furniture maker, bricklayer and structural engineer was critical to detail exactly how these elements would be constructed to create smooth contours with materials not conventionally designed to be curved.

Outcomes

Day one of the precinct opening it was visibly reinvigorated and alive with activity. You could see people were genuinely excited to be in the space which was a sign of the success in its design. People had laptops out having informal meetings, parents were sitting around the play area with their children, older groups of people were sitting around the communal table having a chat – the space truly became a hub of interaction for the centre.