MERIT AWARD FOR COMMERCIAL – RESTAURANT
Big Wheel Burger is a “fast food with a conscience” project conceived and executed by a group of local restauranteurs. The project aimed to combine classic American fast-food style burgers (and associated dishes) with an ethical approach to food-sourcing and preparation. The project also focused heavily on design, from its carefully and purposefully designed interior/exterior space, to its packaging, signage, and advertising. Building Big Wheel involved completely renovating an old laundromat in Victoria’s popular Cook Street Village. The renovation included seismic building upgrades, a complete rebuild of the building’s façade, and the installation of a new kitchen. While not built to a particular environmental standard, the reductive design of the space avoided unnecessary ornamentation, structures and finishes and therefore greatly conserved materials in contrast to typical restaurant renovations. All materials and services were sourced locally, and all appliances and fixtures are energy-smart. 95% of all waste product produced by the restaurant is either recycled or composted and the business expects to be 100% carbon neutral by 2013.
