Earth, Craft & Hospitality: Clare Cousins Architects’ Warm Minimalism for Fisher & Paykel Melbourne Experience Centre.

Located in Fitzroy within a meticulously restored 1920s heritage motor garage, Fisher & Paykel’s Melbourne Experience Centre on Brunswick Street celebrates everyday rituals through materials that speak directly to local character.

The space represents the leading appliance brand’s seventh global experience centre, alongside Sydney, Auckland, New York, Costa Mesa, Toronto, and London. The building’s distinctive scrolled parapet facade has been respectfully restored, returning symmetry to this individually significant heritage structure while creating an inviting entrance.

“We took a ‘light touch’ approach to the building envelope, removing redundant services, expressing the original brick walls, timber ceiling, and trusses, and unifying them in a singular paint colour,” explains Clare Cousins of Clare Cousins Architects, who transformed the space alongside Fisher & Paykel’s design team.

Within this lofty shell, three distinct kitchen environments demonstrate Fisher & Paykel’s unique design approach: a Minimal Kitchen showcasing visually recessive appliances; the Contemporary-styled Social Kitchen where in-house chefs host culinary experiences; and a Professional Kitchen celebrating high-grade stainless steel finishes contrasted with refined timber detailing.

This Yellowtrace Promotion is supported by Fisher & Paykel. Like everything we do, our partner content is carefully curated to maintain the utmost relevance to our audience. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Yellowtrace.

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Fisher & Paykel Introduces a New Columns Refrigeration Series.

Fisher & Paykel's Columns series provides adaptability and design freedom with fridges that work seamlessly in any type of kitchen—both compact areas or those that form part of a larger, open-plan space.

“The project pays homage to the idea of earth and locally sourced materials,” Cousins notes. This philosophy of material authenticity manifests in the distinctive red brick Palladiana floor (created after extensive prototyping), a rammed earth entry plinth using Victorian soil with crushed brick aggregate, rich terracotta tiles, and warm Australian spotted gum timber elements.

Local craftsmanship features prominently—the 3.7-metre Social Kitchen table crafted by Fitzroy furniture designer Made By Morgen from a single log of naturally felled Otway blackwood; chairs by Paul Vizzari using remnants from the table-making process; and botanical sculptures by Melbourne artist Hattie Molloy.

“The layering of textures and materials evokes an emotional response. We aimed to create a warm, natural minimalism that speaks to local craft and considered detailing,” says Cousins. “This very much aligns with Fisher & Paykel and their ambition to deliver exceptional appliances.”

Beyond kitchens, the centre features dedicated spaces for wine storage, outdoor cooking with DCS Grills, and a fabric care area showcasing Fisher & Paykel’s vision for the future of laundry as a connected ecosystem integrated within home architecture.

Aesop Collins Street by Clare Cousins Architects.

Aesop’s second Collins Street incarnation draws on qualities of civic architecture. Inspired by the nearby State Library of Victoria, the store is a compendium of classical references, robust materials and careful craftsmanship.

“Because we design some of the best appliances in the world, we want to showcase their potential in some of the world’s best kitchens and fabric care spaces,” shares Daniel Witten-Hannah, Fisher & Paykel CEO.

The brand’s New Zealand heritage is subtly acknowledged through the welcome experience, where guests are offered tea warmed by hot basalt rock on the rammed-earth onboarding plinth—a thoughtful intersection of technology, craft and natural elements.

For architects and designers interested in experiencing this space firsthand, exclusive tours and chef-led Mastery of Temperature experiences are available. Email melbourneexperiencecentre [@] fisherpaykel.com or call +61 3 8639 4911. While drop-in visitors are welcome at 396–398 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, booking in advance ensures access to the full suite of resources.

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[Images courtesy of Fisher & Paykel. Photography by Gavin Green.]