Gelato Messina Cronulla
GELATO MESSINA CRONULLA
Sans-Arc Studio
ARCHITECTS
Sans-Arc Studio
PHOTOGRAPHS
Jack Fenby
AREA
120 m²
YEAR
2025
LOCATION
Cronulla, Australia
CATEGORY
Retail Interiors
English description provided by the architects.
Inspired by sci-fi set design, Gelato Messina Cronulla draws from romantic visions of the future.
A grid of oversized, underlit circular lights hovers over a space that is many things at once: gritty, reflective, warm, and bold.
Our fourth project with Gelato Messina, the brief was to evolve both the brand and the space—something unique and distinct from their other stores, something experimental and futuristic.
The concept was born from a mutual admiration (with the client) for Luc Besson's 1997 sci-fi film The Fifth Element.
The film's mood and gritty set design became the foundation for the environment and the 'other-worldly' gelato experience we aimed to create.
As with all GM stores, there were specific circulation requirements and a need to manage large waves of customers.
A generous site made this easier to accommodate, allowing for booth seating and a communal table.
GM has its own joinery workshop, so as much as possible was designed to be built in-house by the client.
This was balanced with the need for highly robust, low-maintenance, and environmentally considerate materials.
Immediately eye-catching from the street and pushing the limits of GM's 'each-store-is-different' philosophy, the space is dramatic and a bold departure for the brand.
This varied experience across stores creates a dynamic engagement with the Messina identity. The space is laid out with function as the first priority.
With a streamlined connection to BOH, an allowance for large waves of customers, and visibility to the churner area, the priority is.
The booth seating, a rare luxury in a GM store, offers moments of intimacy between the rushes.
The space reflects the ethos of the brand: experimental, progressive, and crafted with quality ingredients.
It is also the result of a maturing client and designer relationship.
The collaboration has been exploratory, productive, and open, pushing the limits of what a gelato shop should look like and the capability of the GM workshop and construction team.
