Whadjuk people of the Nyoongar nation
Western Australia
Monelli is a coastal café set within a public park along the Western Australian shoreline. Rather than focusing on sweeping ocean views, the design takes a quieter approach, creating a calm and welcoming place that feels closely connected to the surrounding landscape and community. Pavilion-like forms allow light, movement, and views to pass through the site, strengthening connections between the park and nearby public spaces while marking a clear and inviting arrival point.
Inside, curved forms and soft changes in light subtly reference the movement of the sea, creating a relaxed and intimate atmosphere. Built within a modest post-Covid budget, the project uses simple, durable materials suited to the coastal environment, achieving warmth and character through thoughtful composition rather than excess. Monelli is a place for gathering, lingering, and enjoying good food, firmly grounded in its setting and shaped by a strong sense of community.
As a family-run café, we wanted Monelli to feel calm, welcoming, and truly part of the park and coastline we love. The design was important to us because it shapes how people feel when they arrive — relaxed, comfortable, and connected to the place around them.  We wanted a space that sits gently in the landscape, with light, shelter, and warmth. The building supports how we work every day and creates a place where locals and visitors can gather, slow down, and feel at home.
Felipe Soto, Design Architect
Nick Jeffery, Project Architect
Zync, Structural Engineer
Forth, Hydraulic Consultant
Building Lines, Building Surveyor
See Design Studio, Landscape Consultant
Emergen, ESD Consultant