A star in the gardens, Aster is nostalgic joy transformed into a sleek modern cafe experience for all to create their own memories.
Set within the Ōtepoti Botanic Garden, the brief was to create a vibrant, adaptable interior that could shift between café, bar and community hub, while responding to the building’s iconic umbrella-like form. The botanical setting and café name inspired a floral language, with curved forms arranged around a central stem to abstract the shape of a flower. Strong primary colours echo the gardens beyond, balanced by grounded white and green tones. Durable, cost-effective materials support high public use, creating a joyful, welcoming interior directly connected to its garden setting.
