The current Rātā Cafe furniture was more than ready for a facelift, with a real need to look fresher and function better. Due to the popularity of Wellington’s much loved eco-sanctuary, the cafe was operating on the brink of capacity prior to Covid-19. As a result, a key requirement was to increase the number of people who could be seated by better arranging the space and introducing a smarter furniture layout.

The brief was not targeted at packing as many people into the space as possible, but instead increasing the occupancy through more comfortable and interesting furniture solutions. Bringing variation to the space was also important, such as breaking up the 4-seater tables and chairs with higher or longer pieces of furniture. Flexibility to be able to shift the furniture and rearrange for larger events and functions was also key.

The general look and feel needed to be considered by emphasising Zealandia’s organic, natural and sustainable identity. Furniture colours and materials should be reflective and complementary of the strong natural surroundings and impressive backdrop.

Other practical necessities were:

• New stackable chairs without over splayed legs to avoid trip hazards.
• New durable and wipeable tables.
• High bar leaner and bar stools.