Punchbowl, Australia·2026

The Dancing Goat

Public Toilet to Cafe Conversion

Role

Architect & Concept Designer

Year

2026

Location

Punchbowl, Australia

Engagement

Private commission

Brief

The brief

A single-storey public toilet building in Punchbowl, Sydney has sat vacant for more than twenty years — a small, forgotten council asset on a site that already has what a café needs: street frontage, adjacent parking, and steady pedestrian movement between two public parks and three transit stops.

Rather than propose demolition and a new build, this concept explores land repurposing: convert the existing structure into a compact specialty café and espresso bar with covered outdoor seating, prepared as a proposal for presentation to the local council.

Why it works for the site:

Land repurposing — reuses an existing vacant public asset instead of leaving it inactive.
Low-impact regeneration — creates a new destination without requiring major new development.
Public realm activation — outdoor seating and pedestrian activity contribute to a more active street environment.

Inside this project

Site & context analysis
2D architectural plan and zoning diagram
3D concept massing model
AI-assisted concept visualization

Process disclosure

AI use

Selectively applied

Note on process — AI tools were used selectively to refine the visual quality and detail of the renderings shown on this page. The design itself was developed through extensive iterative 2D sketching and 3D modeling; the final output reflects manual design intent at every stage. AI is applied as a finishing aid, not as a starting point.

Council Presentation