LDU coffee shop

bradleycole was engaged to design the LDU coffee shop in Dallas, Texas for a couple of past Australian clients now based there. The design took elements from a Perth cafe we designed for the boys a couple of years earlier, such as the bleacher seating, natural plywood and concrete finishes, and combined them with exposed locally made bricks, black steelwork and local blown glass pendant lights, custom designed and fabricated by bradleycole.

Part of the brief was to help create an identifiable brand that could carry forward into future venues. The boys preferred an understated theme that reflected the built fabric of Australian hospitality venues rather than sing about their cultural heritage. We also wanted to incorporate local producers as part of the brand identity.

The tenancy was an open concrete and timber framed shell. It was still under construction at the time of our engagement, which allowed for the relocation of the venue’s entry point and some reconfiguring of the windows to maximise interaction with the street and winter sun.

The venue’s planning offers different customer experiences and zones all with views of the coffee production area, the product at the centre of LDU’s brand. Tiered, grandstanding style bleachers also face the coffee machine subconsciously adding to the sense of theatre in a fun way, whilst again promoting the spectacle of coffee making and LDU’s dedication to their craft. Exposing the coffee production and food preparation area was not something done in Dallas before and a challenge for the local Health Authority, but with some modifications it eventually gain approval.

In addition to the architecture and interior design, the project brief included the lighting consultancy and supply. To lower the front of house space and increase its intimacy we incorporated an undulating sea of custom bradleycole glass pendant lights. These lit coloured glass pendants also offers intrigue to the passerby and a level of brand identity for the venue.

We love working with local artisans wherever projects take us, and are very grateful to Dallas glass artist Aaron Tate for blowing the bradleycole designed Boz light shades and black glass Seed pendants located over the banquette area.