Hello Kitty Diner in Sydney by Luchetti Krelle.

Hello Kitty has landed on the sunny shores of Sydney, at Chatswood’s The Interchange. Local design studio Luchetti Krelle were given the opportunity to utilise the fun and frivolity of Hello Kitty, a pop culture icon with millions of devoted fans around the world, in a unique dining experience. Exploring the possibility of what a Hello Kitty Diner could look like, the designers opted to go beyond any preconceived ideas and make the experience uniquely Australian. Playing on an iconic American Diner theme, the restaurant is focused around a central counter and an open kitchen. The booth seating and bar stools give further nods to the diner style.

Hello Kitty’s cheeky energy inspired the colours, patterns and applied textures. “Of course, pink had to be a feature, but we deliberately steered away from the cutesy”, explain the designers. The idea was to make a space that everyone can enjoy – to appeal to both boys and girls, the young and the young at heart. Heroic crimson, subtle blues, bold turquoise contrast and neutral hues sit against the natural textures of concrete and timber.

Central to the design concept was developing a strong identity and building on the highly recognisable profile of the Hello Kitty brand. Luchetti Krelle worked closely with Tokyo based Hello Kitty creators, Sanrio, to form the logo and Hello Kitty’s face which was incorporated into a stylised burger. The Sanrio collaboration extended from the Hello Kitty mascot statue greeting diners at the entry, into a series of signature cartoon poses and kawaii icons that were incorporated into the custom wallpaper, fabrics and tableware.

Overall, the design concept combined classic and iconic elements with a modern twist, adding to the excitement and the undeniable entertainment value of the Hello Kitty brand.

[Images courtesy of Luchetti Krelle. Photography by Michael Wee.]