KIND is a social enterprise cafe based in an exciting new hospitality hub in Morningside, Auckland. Positioned on a prime corner site, KIND is postured to 'Make Morningside a greener, better place to live and work'."
The fitout brings to life the French botanical aesthetic by flooding the space with plants and transforming the environment into a lush garden oasis. KIND intentionally keeps the thresholds of interior and exterior ambiguous. A space to relax and feel encapsulated in the light filled environment.
Date 2019
Location Morningside, Auckland
"KIND cafe sits on a busy corner site in what had been a rather grim area of Morningside. Lush greenery and hanging baskets add vibrant splashes of colour to a grey, semi-industrial neighbourhood and provide dappled shade under the greenhouse roof. The junction of inside and outside spaces is blurred and, wherever you sit, the cafe is an engaging and delightful space to inhabit. There is a commendable commitment to sustainability, with community composting and the conversion of the local disused bowling club to a produce garden. In sum, the cafe is a vibrant addition to a previously neglected suburb."
- NZIA Auckland Jury
The architecture provides shelter from the wind and rain, while the hanging plants create a canopy that provides shade. The architecture and fitout are intentionally subdued to allow the extensive planting to be the focus of the spatial experience. Two large handmade tables stretch centrally through the length of the cafe encouraging communal activity and acknowledging the community building aspirations of the clients.