MEGANITE 100% Crystalline-Silica Free Acrylic Solid Surface for Retail: Foster & Black by Bergman & Co
At Melbourne Central, one of Australia’s highest-traffic retail destinations, this bold coffee kiosk fit-out for Foster & Black demonstrates the value of considered material selection in commercial interior design. Designed by Bergman & Co., the 20sqm tenancy uses MEGANITE acrylic solid surface to deliver a seamless, monolithic red form that balances sculptural presence with durability, repairability and long-term performance. Specified for its consistent through-body colour, thermoformability and non-porous surface, MEGANITE enabled the design team to realise a confident retail kiosk solution suited to the demands of a busy Australian shopping centre environment.
MEGANITE acrylic solid surface to deliver a seamless, monolithic red form that balances sculptural presence with durability, repairability and long-term performance.
The brief was clear. As Hamish Collins of Bergman & Co. explains, “The brief was to create a bold coffee kiosk that stood out from the crowd. The café design was to be playful to cater for Melbourne Central’s primarily youthful demographic.” Positioned on a tenancy pad wedged between two imposing structural columns, the kiosk needed to perform efficiently within a constrained footprint while competing visually with its surrounding retail context. Collins notes that the project’s success lies in its ability to “catch the eye and draw customers in from the overwhelming shopping mall experience.”
In a retail environment defined by visual noise, clarity became the design strategy. Bergman & Co. conceived the kiosk as a sculptural, monolithic object – a bold counterpoint to the predominantly black and white retail palette around it. Rather than layering materials or applied finishes, the design relies on a single, confident gesture: a continuous red form that reads as one cohesive volume.
Rather than layering materials or applied finishes, the design relies on a single, confident gesture: a continuous red form that reads as one cohesive volume.
“For the design we wanted a single, bold red colour to seamlessly wrap the entire structure, allowing the café to stand apart from its predominantly black and white surrounds,” Collins explains. Achieving that uninterrupted expression required a material capable of holding colour consistency across planes, edges and curved forms. MEGANITE acrylic solid surface provided the flexibility and fabrication precision to realise this intent, with through-body pigmentation maintaining colour integrity across every detail.
Thermoformability was equally critical to the outcome. Controlled curves and refined edges reinforce the kiosk’s sculptural presence while supporting safe movement within a high-traffic retail setting. In collaboration with TKIC Solid Surface Specialists, the design was resolved with precision, minimising visual interruption and reinforcing the integrity of the overall form.
Achieving that uninterrupted expression required a material capable of holding colour consistency across planes, edges and curved forms.
Beyond aesthetics, the specification needed to respond to the realities of retail and hospitality environments. Shopping centres present one of the most demanding interior contexts: constant pedestrian traffic, regular cleaning regimes, accidental impact and sustained daily use.
“MEGANITE allowed us to achieve this seamless block of colour whilst ensuring the kiosk would be robust and durable within its demanding shopping mall environment,” Collins notes. MEGANITE’s non-porous materiality supports hygienic food-service applications, resisting staining and moisture ingress – essential for café counters and preparation zones.
Repairability of the product was also an important factor, to ensure any damage to the café could easily be fixed,” Collins adds. Unlike many applied finishes, solid surface materials can be refinished and restored in situ. Minor scratches or damage can be repaired without replacing entire sections, reducing disruption and supporting long-term value. For commercial fit-outs, this whole-of-life performance is as important as first impression impact.
For commercial fit-outs, this whole-of-life performance is as important as first impression impact.
This Melbourne Central location marks Foster & Black’s 16th store opening nationally. As brands expand, maintaining consistency while adapting to site constraints becomes increasingly important. Here, MEGANITE enabled a clear material strategy that supports both brand identity and contextual responsiveness.
The collaboration between Bergman & Co., TKIC Solid Surface Specialists and Addition Projects ensured the design was delivered with precision from concept through to installation. The outcome is a kiosk that feels deliberate and resolved at every scale – from its overall sculptural presence to the refinement of its edges.
MEGANITE enabled a clear material strategy that supports both brand identity and contextual responsiveness.
In a retail setting where competition for attention is constant, Foster & Black Melbourne Central succeeds through disciplined material use and confident execution. By specifying a durable solid surface capable of delivering seamless colour and long-term performance, the design team has created a retail environment that is both distinctive and resilient.
For architects, interior designers and commercial specifiers seeking a solid surface solution for retail kiosk design, hospitality counters or high-traffic interiors, this project offers a clear example of how MEGANITE supports design ambition while meeting the practical demands of Australian shopping centre environments.
Interior Designer: Bergman & Co.
Fabricator: TKIC Solid Surface Specialists
Shopfitter: Addition Projects
Photography: Sharyn Cairns
Project Gallery: Foster & Black