Graphic
Mucho 2 Robata
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Pou Auaha / Creative Director
Dominic Hofstede
Description:
Robata is an izakaya-style restaurant located in a historic newspaper building in central Melbourne. The name is a common abbreviation of robatayaki, a centuries-old traditional Japanese charcoal-grilling technique that translates literally to “fireside cooking”. The restaurant’s ambition is to deliver an interpretation of this unique style of cooking, informed by local culture and expertise, delivered in a relaxed ‘Melbourne’ style of dining. Mucho were commissioned by the San Telmo Group (responsible for well-known Melbourne restaurants San Telmo, Asado, Palermo and Pastuso) to create a visual identity, signage and lightbox installation, working closely with the architects Ewert Leaf.
Inspired by the neon ambience of Tokyo’s night-scapes, the interior experience is futuristic and cinematic. A key component of our brief was the design of a dramatic installation of 30 bespoke lightboxes that transport patrons to the streets of a Japanese super-city. With a gentle nod to Ridley Scott’s legendary Bladerunner movie, the layers of 1980s logos, traffic signs and directional arrows illuminate the bustling space, acting as a wayfinding beacon for passing street traffic.
The success of the installation in establishing a distinctive and identifiable identity for Robata is manifest in the myriad Instagram posts featuring the graphic lightboxes.
Judge's comments:
It felt like we were in Tokyo’s night-scapes of neon ambience. We loved the 1980’s reference to Blade Runner and how this would create such a unique experience. An original piece of work.