Located along Jetty Road in Australia’s Glenelg suburb, the newly completed Gelato Messina by Sans-Arc Studio elevates the traditional gelato shop into a highly social public interior.
Rather than executing a standard commercial hospitality fit-out, the design team utilized boldness as a core architectural strategy. The open, street-facing storefront operates as an extension of the local beachfront lifestyle, translating the simple pleasure of consuming gelato into an immersive spatial experience.
A design rooted in gelato nostalgia
Drawing from the saturated color palettes and visual excess inherent to southern Italian gelato storefronts, the interior design of Gelato Messina invokes a sense of collective memory and nostalgia.
The space captures warm summer evenings and the lighthearted anticipation felt among crowds waiting to choose a flavor.
Radical colors for Gelato Messina
Informed by both radical design movements and Sicilian culture, color is applied throughout the interior in a playful yet controlled way. Subtle nods to vendor carts and arcade lights compete for visual attention, elevating the energetic atmosphere.
The project’s materiality, meanwhile, leans into a deliberately un-precious scheme suited for a high-traffic coastal environment. Illuminated panels, reflective surfaces, and custom insertions are paired with graphic interventions and lightboxes displaying photographs of Sicily.
Adding a faintly absurd and irreverent tone to the project, durable stadium seating reinforces the playful nature of the brand.
Prioritizing movement and openness
Recognizing the consumption of gelato as a fleeting social ritual, the floor plan prioritizes spatial openness and movement rather than long-term dwelling.
Generous circulation paths and limited seating allow the interior to accommodate peak summer crowds while maintaining an inviting atmosphere during slower, quieter periods.
