McCluskey Studio has converted a former heritage-listed cordial factory in Melbourne’s Collingwood into community-centered restaurant Orlo.
In collaboration with Orlo’s owner, James Klapanis, the local design studio elevated the 1880s red brick building with a sophisticated yet relaxed finish.
The design concept preserves the charm of the building with interiors that feel connected to the setting. “We wanted Orlo to feel as though it has always been there,” says Kate McCluskey Kyle, founder and director of McCluskey Studio.
“Familiarity and approachability were key,” she adds, emphasizing the balance of historic and contemporary elements that create a cohesive ambiance across the building’s four spaces.
The three-story Orlo comprises a ground-floor dining room and courtyard, a private dining mezzanine, and an intimate basement bar.
The main dining space features seating around an open kitchen. Burgundy marble, wainscot paneling, and timber-clad walls impart a feeling of comfort and nostalgia, accented by the raw tactility of the historic structure and the addition of recycled timber ceiling beams.
To the rear, an enclosed courtyard brimming with olive trees and vines features reclaimed cast iron windows and vintage doors surrounded by arched brickwork.
A striking steel spiral staircase ascends to the mezzanine framed by the building’s grand arched windows. By contrast, an underground cocktail bar—aptly named Cordial—crafts a layered, moody enclave with checkerboard flooring, burgundy marble mosaic tiles, fluted timber cladding, and pink marble accents.
Throughout, the building’s rugged brick walls are playfully contrasted by finer finishes like marble, brass, and amber glass. Reclaimed vintage pieces, sourced by Klapanis, are subtly woven into the design. Classic walnut bentwood chairs convey timeless elegance, while rich burnt amber tones tread down to Cordial, offering visual through lines between spaces and “allowing guests to feel comfortable while preserving an element of intrigue and discovery,” Kyle notes.
Orlo is built on the lands of the Wurundjeri Woiwurrung people of the Kulin nation.
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