A butcher shop you’ve never seen before
What came into your mind first when you heard the word butchery? For most people, it will probably be disgusting, messy, or maybe bloody. Back home in Taiwan, I live in a rather civilized and modern neighborhood with some top universities around. However, there was this tiny, uncivilized butcher shop squeezed in the middle of two buildings. Every time I walk passed it, I have to hold my breath because I can smell blood and flesh from a distance. Sometimes, there were even pigs making noises. I believe there are still a lot of butcher shop like this around the world; however, not for this particular butcher shop in Melbourne, Australia.
Despite its urban sprawl, Melbourne is one of the southern hemisphere’s hippest cities. Additionally, it is arguably a city with a forward-thinking, open-minded and creative hipster culture (couture coffee is just one of the big hipster-esque offerings there). In this spirit, Cannings Free Range Butchers (based in Melbourne’s Hawthorn and Kew) is a venture that is a direct antithesis to the more traditional butchers mentioned above. (www.yatzer.com)
Cannings Free Range Butcher is located in Melbourne, Australia, one of the hippest city. Designed by Fiona Lynch, Cannings has a rather modern and elegant design, compare to other butcher shops. The interior uses a great combination of materials. About 60–70% of the entire space is covered by wooden sticks and panels which provides a warm and welcoming essence. Walking into the shop, on the right is a wall of pre-made sandwiches and drinks; on the left is a huge glass display case that spans the entire length. The wood plays a great part in the space by dimming the masculinity of a butcher shop. It brings a soft touch to the entire space and make it more appealing to customers.
Not only did they selected the right materials, they Fiona Lynch also pays great attention to the details. Instead of having a flat surface by trimming the extra wood, she intentionally left it there to emphasize a texture of the wall and to create a rhythm. Unlike other butcher shops, Cannings also has a lot of plants and lighting details that creates freshness and a unique personality.
