Mid-Century Meets Modern Sandwich Culture at S’WICH II Surry Hills.

Studio Shand has delivered something quite special with S’WICH II in Surry Hills, part bistro, part bar is equal parts playfully nostalgic and utterly contemporary. This second collaboration between the studio and the sandwich brand elevates a casual dining experience through colour and shape.

The designers faced an interesting challenge: creating a warm, inviting interior within a new building and precinct, surrounded by larger hospitality offerings. Their solution? A bold duotone palette of brand red and steel grey that creates what they call “pop simplicity” – and it works brilliantly.

Drawing inspiration from streamline moderne diners and mid-century colour blocking, Studio Shand has crafted an interior that feels both familiar and fresh. The space flows seamlessly from a curvilinear entry bar through sculptural moments that saturate walls, floors and ceilings in the signature colour scheme.

The project’s holistic approach to design is impressive. Every element, from the floating screen assembly to the graphic feature light, was conceived as both a functional element and a point of reference for diners. The brand’s visual identity and logomark appear throughout—in plan, on the ceiling, in section, and across every custom-designed object including joinery, tables, trays, and even the tip jar.

“This store represents the best of our studio’s work across interior design, product design and sculpture,” explains Benjamin Jay Shand. Their approach blended ideas and trades to create what he describes as “a memorable experience surrounded by an already stellar local hospitality game.”

The attention to detail extends to the material palette, chosen to reflect S’WICH’s food preparation processes while creating a sensory experience that aligns with the brand identity. Flowing metals connect the back of house to the front, creating visual continuity.

Collaborating with MIB Projects for the build, Austmont for the kitchen, and featuring Amy Vidler’s custom ‘Ripple’ light, the project showcases the power of creative partnerships. Levon Baird’s photography captures the space’s dynamic interplay of colour and form.

S’WICH II succeeds because it doesn’t try too hard. Instead, it creates an environment where enjoying a sandwich becomes part of a larger design experience—one that respects both the brand’s casual nature and the sophisticated design sensibilities of its Surry Hills clientele.

A Slice of Heaven From a Slice of History: Buon Gusto Studios by Studio Shand.

The design team did their homework. The level of rigour applied to analysing the existing building and understanding the community led to a space that appears as if it had always been there.

[Images courtesy of Studio Shand. Photography by Levon Baird.]