Design Challenge and Design Ideas

Social is a food and beverage concept located in the mall space of the new Queens University Student Centre. The challenge was developing a servery counter and seating that complimented the overall Student Centre aesthetic while having its own clear visual identity within the busy mall. The majority of the seating area is located below an 8 meter ceiling height and Brill were briefed that our interventions to the mall space should have minimal impact on the buildings fabric and suspension from above not permitted.

How the brief was fulfilled

A dynamic zig-zagging floor plan was developed to create individual spaces anchoring off central spines. This formed areas that offer higher privacy tucked behind planting to the perimeter corners of the space and seating that encourages interaction with your own party and also others sharing the same cluster. The angled floor plan also provides more seating with a view of the landmark Queens Lanyon Building and caters for larger groups down to individuals at casual high tables, all made from recycled sea plastic.

The all-day operation meant that the mood needed to be flexible. The central spine of the seating clusters took lighting poles with illuminated disks arching over the tables. This was to give a feeling of enclosure in the open space and allow the mood to be adjusted with the lighting levels reduced as the space moves into evening trade. These same disk lights create an eye catching ceiling above the counter bar area which is further connected visually to its seating with common materials including a feature 3d fluted tile in brand red.