PEARL OYSTER

114 Miller St, Preston

Visited: 7th March 2014

Design: The golden lacquered timber holding the rope screen works well against the white chipped timber frame. I love the rope screen so much better than the usual plastic stripping found in most cafes, it gave it a tropical feel. The recycled car tyre mat found at most corner stores added the final touch to this scene of dreamy summer afternoons. I found this entry had a light airy happiness to it. It felt like I was looking at a scene still from an animated film. The oriental font of the cafe sign and the Tin Tin related illustrated menu conjured up memories of Kung Fu halls and romantic ideals of far off mysterious lands that I would read about as a kid. This door created a nostalgic pleasure in me, like the passing scent of a stranger that reminds you of your kindergarten teachers perfume. The natural references of the slate wall panels at the base of each window bring a nice touch to what would be a standard shop front. The stainless steel capping at the base of the windows and across the step create a brilliant visual divide between materials. Once through the rope screen you enter through the well worn wooden red framed door with a central glass panel. There was an almost orchestral squeak to the door on the full swing to open and the close. A loud slight bang at the end of the close upset the flow of the close. There was a nice jingle as the OPEN/CLOSE disc on the window clanged slightly against the glass. One unusual touch to the empty glass window was a small sticker in the top right that featured a fairy with a fly's head. Interesting. The door handle was the old stainless steel ball handle which complemented the red door nicely.  

Door resistance: 2

Closure mechanism: Hydraulic arm

Draft: Minimal

Squeak level: 3

Change return time: 52 sec

IL PIZZAIOLO

163 Darebin Rd, Thornbury

Visited: 19th February 2014

Design: Every now and then a door comes along that changes your life, for me, this could be the one. This is the first door I have driven past and wanted to come back just to review the door. Normally I pick a venue I like and go not knowing what to expect. Once I saw this door, I couldn't get it out of my mind and even now weeks after I have been there, I still think about it. I can't stop thinking about it and how it made me feel. 

I think I'm in love.

The beautiful rustic rawness of the natural oiled timber and a soft varnish finish to bring out that rich golden quality of the grain and its knots. The fact they have left the cross-hatch blade marks of the saw is recycled brilliance. Sanding back just enough to reveal the softness of the grain and the touch of the craftsman signature. This combined with the black framing and the dark tinted windows allows it to glow, day and night. The rich canary yellow of the slick signage, simply placed to the left so as not deter your view is the ultimate touch. This scene to me could almost be out of the Milan Design Festival, showcasing the best of Italian Design. I found the door to have a significant authority and the bespoke hand beaten curved steel handles added to its substantial weight and feel on the open. An amazing resistance that makes you feel the door upon entering. Silent and smooth, the return to close is like watching the challenger dock at the International Space Station. Two tarnished steel support bars vertically bookend the panels of the door giving it even more strength. With a small stainless steel lock on the left there are no distractions giving you full appreciation of this object and its existence. The back of the door, (interior) keeps its simplicity with another similar door handle and another bespoke handcrafted bolt lock that one would find on a German castle door. Absolutely exceptional.

Wunderbar!!      

Door resistance: 4.5

Closure mechanism: Hydraulic arm

Draft: Minimal

Squeak level: 0

Change return time: 46 sec