#4 Jury

Victoria, Australia

If it weren't for the hint in the name, you may not guess that this cafe used to be part of a prison.

Located in Coburg, just eight kilometres from Melbourne's CBD, the 475sq/m cafe sits within the stone perimeter walls of the former Pentridge Prison. Before it was closed in 1997, the Australian prison housed notorious criminal and crime novelist: Chopper Read.

Biasol Design Studio added pale timber struts and plywood furniture to the bare concrete space, providing accents with pastel and monochrome paintwork.

According to Biasol, the considerable contrast between the building's former function and its new one inspired a contrast in terms of colours and materials.

What do we love about it? The eccentricity of sipping a cup of coffee in a former prison, surrounded by a modern and fresh, yet authentic decor.

(Photos: Martina Gemmola)