BAKER. D. CHIRICO BRISBANE
2019 - 2023
Baker D. Chirico Brisbane is the result of a long-standing collaboration between March Studio and Daniel Chirico, extending a relationship that began in Carlton over a decade ago. Conceived as both a continuation and an evolution, the project explores how a familiar architectural language can be reinterpreted to suit a new context, scale and ambition.
Set within Newstead, the bakery occupies approximately 240 square metres across two levels, with a planning strategy centred on clarity, efficiency and performance. The working bakery is deliberately exposed, transforming production into a public act. Ovens, provers and specialised equipment are positioned in full view from the piazza, allowing the rituals of baking to animate the space and establish a direct connection between maker and customer. The Fortuna Bun Divider, spiral mixers and pastry sheeters are strategically placed in full view, transforming the art of baking into a captivating performance for all to enjoy. Supporting functions are consolidated to the rear, ensuring the front of house remains open, legible and engaging.
Materially and formally, the project builds upon the timber lineage of the original Carlton store, while amplifying its spatial and expressive qualities. A continuous surface of CNC-cut plywood forms a cascading ceiling that extends down into walls and shelving, creating a unified architectural language. Where the first store referenced the woven geometry of a bread basket, this iteration draws on the layered, laminated qualities of pastry. The result is a more expansive and immersive interior that balances warmth with precision.
The palette is complemented by Max Lamb’s Marmoreal terrazzo flooring, whose rich aggregation introduces a playful, almost confectionary quality, and by custom furniture that references functionalist precedents while remaining robust and utilitarian. Together, these elements establish an environment that is both tactile and performative.
Baker D. Chirico Brisbane is ultimately an exploration of craft, process and continuity, an architecture that celebrates making, while carefully refining and extending an existing identity into new territory.
