Retail fit-outs have a dirty little secret: most of them are destined for a skip bin the moment a lease expires. It’s a cycle that produces enormous waste and, frankly, very little accountability. Kori Windsor, the third iteration of Melbourne’s beloved Kori Ice Cream brand, is Air Design Studio’s answer to that problem that’s worth paying attention to.

Situated on Chapel Street in Windsor, the 50sqm space is part ice cream shop, part high-fidelity listening bar—a hybrid that suits the street’s late-night energy perfectly. But the more interesting story here isn’t the vibe, it’s the thinking behind every design decision.

Air Design Studio, led by Head of Design Janine Kariyawasam, conceived the entire fit-out as a “kit of parts”—a choreographed suite of elements designed for relocation rather than demolition. The signature stainless steel refrigeration units are clad independently on all four sides, meaning they can be disconnected, lifted out, and reinstalled elsewhere without damage. Infrastructure reimagined as a mobile brand asset. It’s a clever move.

The same logic threads through the acoustics. Working with Pitt & Giblin, the team measured and calibrated the room’s sound before a single panel went up, achieving studio-quality audio in a retail environment. The modular acoustic ceiling system—developed with builder Masterfit Construction—is designed to be dismantled and repurposed. Even the cork wall panels were kept in standard sizes to eliminate cutting waste, and can simply be “unclipped” for future use.

Materiality follows an equally considered circular logic. The DJ booth features discontinued timber veneers sourced from The Elton Group—materials that would otherwise have been discarded. Loose furniture was sourced second-hand and reupholstered in Instyle textiles. The existing brick shell was left largely intact, touched only with a light limewash that respects the site’s history rather than erasing it.

As Kariyawasam puts it: “By designing for mobility, we give our clients more than just a look—we give them an asset.”

That’s the shift in accountability retail design has been needing for a long time. Kori Windsor proves it’s entirely achievable—and that it doesn’t require sacrificing atmosphere or craft to get there.

[Images courtesy of Air Design Studio. Photography by Sharyn Cairns.]