Landini Associates developed the strategy and designed the market hall interior, identity, way finding, graphics and even the leasing brochures for Capri on via Roma, the Gold Coast’s long-awaited new fresh-food market. Located in the heart of the Isle of Capri on Via Roma, the waterfront foodie’s delight opened in January to enthusiastic queues.

With over 50 specialist food retailers including a greengrocer, supermarket, delicatessen, artisan bakery, chocolatier and wine and beer merchant, there is little wonder as to why this has become the newest social and foodie hub on the Gold Coast. Complementing the take-home food offer are a plethora of espresso bars, cafes and fine dining waterfront restaurants, as well as a licensed fish emporium accessible via boat drive thru. There’s even a beautician, pharmacy, post office and a gym that generates its own power; this truly is like no other destination on the Gold Coast.

Landini Associates have created a light and open space that enables the food and natural surroundings to be the hero, a space for people to meet, greet, eat and relax. The Market Hall and communal spaces are spacious light and airy, possessing a distinct outdoor feel in response to the subtropical climate, with floor to ceiling glass indulging shoppers in the luxury of natural light and waterfront views.

The design consciously exposes all technical areas of the building, from ceiling pipes to fan coil units and air conditioning ducts. The brutality of these simple and raw details effectively heightens the fresh food offer by way of contrast. Mirrored ceilings reflect and enhance the energy of the space and the theatre of food production. The identity draws inspiration from the traditional market stall framework, with yellow as the signature color that features throughout the graphics and way finding down to an energetic injection in the aggregated concrete floor of the market hall.

Landini’s signature oversized graphics feature throughout and play on the market name’s Italian roots; CIAO! And MERCATO stand tall at 4.2 meters on painted blades to greet customers from the road and water respectively with a cheeky wink, whilst inside illuminated mesh graphics add a mechanical edge to the likes of BON APPITITO, PESCE, CARNE and SUPERMERCATO. The amusing and flirtatious Italian tone of the graphics humanizes and enlivens their industrial scale.

The Italian continues down the 175-space car park below, dividing sections as towns Ancona, Bologna, Cataia and Dolomiti. Capri on via Roma celebrates a happy marriage between the Italian passion for food and the relaxed approach of Gold Coast living. It is a modern market square of today for lucky Gold Coast residents, delivering the finest and freshest produce and quickly establishing itself as the heart of the local community.

Photography Trevor Mein
Design by Landini Associates