MECCA's new three-storey flagship at 299 Bourke Street Melbourne fuses heritage and contemporary design within a 1930s Art Deco building by architect Harry Norris, transformed with Studio McQualter into Australia's largest beauty destination.
The design pays homage to the building's past, with original terrazzo floors inspiring the addition of striking vitrified porcelain mosaic patterns from Olde English Tiles.
Studio McQualter designed the patterns and colourways, selecting continuous and speckled colours from our French porcelain colour palette.
"The porcelain mosaics were a natural fit with the design, being commonly used in the era the building was built, and in decades after. As with all the custom tile patterns in store, we sought to blend new and old.. layering colour and detail for a rich experience." Kate, Studio Mcqualter.
Also chosen for it's durability, the vitrified porcelain mosaics are perfectly suited to handle the anticipated high foot traffic to the 4,000-square-meter flagship store.
The bespoke designs were produced in our Sydney factory, with our team carefully hand-assembling the mosaic tiles onto mesh sheets for easy installation.
The finished installation shows how beautifully the old and new can work together, with the mosaic patterns flowing seamlessly alongside the restored terrazzo through shared colours and thoughtful layering that aids in bringing the building's history to life in a completely fresh way.
Photographer: Hugh Davies
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