ULA Cafe 

Text description provided by the architects. Housed in the tower of the former Yorkshire Brewery in Collingwood, ULA Café embodies a mixture of old and new. The design shows the coexistence of history, present and future while preserving the importance of the heritage building and brewery culture.

The client's vision is to transform a heritage space into a neighborhood café, taking advantage of the unique opportunities offered by the original building elements. Our design approach aims to create new gestures in response to existing features and eternal coexistence. The newly built forms echo individual windows and doors, bridging the connections between the interior and the exterior.​

Attention to detail was critical to ensuring the new elements blend seamlessly with the heritage walls and their significance. The counter color and refraction line detail continue the heritage walls while varying in different uses. The cement finish brought solidity and created a sense of timelessness, while the slate-like ceramic tiles with raised slab floor continued in the exterior floor finishes and the base of the heritage tower. This design also created a buffer space underneath, which reduced the impact of moisture and moisture on the old building structure.

New track lighting is located at the height of the original distinctive steel beams, adding flexibility to the space's atmosphere. The new sliding door reacts to the graffiti pattern on the wall when closed, providing a unique touch to the space.

This project displays the coexistence of historical elements and new interventions through form, materiality, color and every detail. A coexistence of similarities and differences invites clients to engage in a dialogue that spans the timeline from history to the present and future. The project has taken a considered approach to celebrate heritage features, preserve and protect the future. The design demonstrates that heritage sites can be respectfully updated while maintaining a sense of modesty and elegance without conflict or contrast. The continuity of the new space with the existing one creates a deeper connection to history and a sense of the future.​

The heritage sites approach emphasizes continuity, coexistence and eternity without creating conflict or contrast. This approach is implemented consistently across all design aspects and scales to ensure seamless integration of the new with the old.