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KORI ICE CREAM
The experience of Japanese Hospitality
It's a classic design dilemma: does the brand lead, or the interior? For Kori Ice-cream, the answer was "both, at once". The result? A beautifully balanced brand experience that feels like stepping right off Glenferrie Road and into the colourful world of Japan's Kawaii culture. The Design deeply inspired by omotenashi – the essence of Japanese hospitality, which centers on wholeheartedly anticipating and fulfilling guests' needs to ensure a truly genuine and thoughtful experience.
The Brief.
Our clients – Bernard Chu (ex-Lux Bite) and Joanne Yeoh (ex-Coda) – were deeply passionate about crafting seriously delicious ice cream inspired by Japanese flavors. Their new venture was set to open in a heritage building on bustling Glenferrie Road, entering an already crowded ice cream market. To make a real impact, their store needed to announce the arrival of a fresh, original brand. Luckily, our friends at Principal Design were developing the brand concurrently, which sparked a ton of collaborative conversations about how the brand could shape the interior experience, and vice versa, ultimately leading to their iconic Hawthorn home you see today. The result was Principal Design’s “Kori Red” set against a backdrop of Japan's Kawaii culture-inspired pink stripe.
Project Highlights.
The Central Counter
From the outset, we recognised the counter's pivotal role in the Kori Ice-cream experience. As the central hub for operations and service – and a large portion of the budget – it was designed to be both highly functional for staff and seamlessly intuitive for guests. Our priority was a counter that supported efficient service, facilitated genuine connection with guests by allowing staff to complete transactions while maintaining eye contact.
Crafted in a beautiful stainless-steel exterior, our builders Masterfit, expertly utilised every inch of space within to really make this counter not just look beautiful but work hard. By concealing everything from spoons to cones, we created an uninterrupted view for customers, keeping the focus firmly on the star of the show: the ice cream.
Client testimonial.
“As a thrilled client and proud owner of Kōri Ice Cream, I'm over the moon with the mind-blowing architectural design. Seriously, it has exceeded all my expectations!
From the moment I set foot in Kōri, I was instantly captivated by the seamless fusion of functionality and sheer beauty. The layout was meticulously planned, creating an immersive experience that leaves customers and staff in awe.
Not only was the project flawlessly delivered, with every milestone met on time, but the team also managed to control costs without compromising quality. They even incorporated sustainable materials and maintenance systems, ensuring this design stands the test of time.
Let me tell you, the public's response has been incredible! Customers are flocking to Kōri, drawn by the inviting ambiance. And the icing on the cake? The staff is absolutely thriving in their well-designed workspace, with boosted morale and productivity.
I wholeheartedly endorse this extraordinary architectural design - it's a testament to the team's vision and expertise. It has truly taken Kōri Ice Cream to new heights of success!”
— Bernard Chu, Director at Kori Ice Cream
The Ice Cream Holders
I’ts always the little details that makes a guest feel comfortable and supported. For Kori Ice-cream, our ice cream ledges are a perfect illustration. These small tables, with their neat little holes for your cone and handy bag hooks underneath, show how we've tried to think about the guest's perspective in our design solutions – that's what we call empathetic design.
Architect Testimonial.
“Kōri Ice Cream is a new business and their first store needed a fit-out that was strong enough to create an identity for the brand not only on the competitive Glenferrie Road, but in the already saturated ice-cream market. We poured our attention into translating their core brand ideas and beliefs into a physical space that was unique to them. For Kōri, this was about traditional Japanese hospitality with a contemporary twist.”
— Eid Goh, Director
The Colour Drenching
Colour in this project was important; driven by the need to make a big impact on a budget we looked for ways to bring the brand to life within the interior – a process that involved close collaboration between design, branding, and the client. This deliberate use of colour, which even washes over the facade, clearly defines the space: a vibrant coral on the service side and a clean white for the guest area. The effect is an interior that feels inherently Kori, a testament to its impactful colour strategy which was recognised with a FRAME Award for Best Use of Colour.
