McDonald’s Sky Kitchen, Sydney

At Sydney Airport’s Terminal 1 McDonald’s is taking its iconic golden arches to a whole new level. Featuring a glowing yellow glassed-in kitchen located well above the dining public, the new restaurant is hard to miss.

By Landini Associates in collaboration with McDonald’s Australia, McDonald’s Sky Kitchen aims to deliver a never-before-seen experience. It does so through reimagining the fast food experience – with a see-through ‘kitchen in the sky’ placed directly above order counter.

Landini Associates has combined visually stimulating with structurally complex for a ‘new-look’ McDonald’s design.

The vertical design maximises the restaurant’s small footprint while also providing a window into food preparation. Visible at a distance and further highlighted by branded wall art, the vibrant yellow, brightly lit space draws the eye from afar.

The unique arrangement posed challenges in delivering food to customers quickly and hassle-free. Landini Associates got around the problem by combining kiosk ordering technology with a sci-fi conveyor belt ‘transporter’ delivery system. The design takes inspiration from similar set-ups seen throughout Asia, where floor space is at a premium.

Despite its eye-catching design, the restaurant is deliberately ‘un-themed’, and strives to elevate itself through a combination of design and natural materials – concrete, glass, stainless steel and oak.

It’s working. Theatrical, colourful and full of movement and surprises, the restaurant has become one of the most Instagrammed places at the airport.