Landini Associates has reunited with T2, over a decade on from their first collaboration, to deliver a new concept store at Melbourne Central. The project is the first stage in a reinvention of the brand ahead of its 30th anniversary in 2026.
Project Name: T2 Tea
Studio Name: Landini Associates
Photography: Trevor Mein
Steeped in History – Tea Beats Fashion
Landini Associates and T2 first worked together in 2014, on the company’s HQ, their Australian retail formats, and the brand’s first international stores in London and New York. Celebrated for celebrated for “rethinking the tea house for a new generation”, that work received global recognition, including the prestigious Retail Design Institute of America’s International Store of the Year award. The project famously beat luxury icons Hermès and Selfridges, proving that “tea is cooler than coffee,” and as fashionable, too.
Rebrewing the Partnership – Turning Over a New Leaf
A decade on, the T2 x Landini partnership is being reimagined, this time in the brand’s heartland, Melbourne Central, the caffeine capital of the world.
Part of Lipton Teas and Infusions, T2 has initiated a program to update its retail offer and reset its brand expression. The new Melbourne Central location serves as the initial prototype for this program, establishing principles that will guide future stores in Australia and internationally.
The 100sqm space is designed as a compact and efficient format. Key elements include:
•A double-height tea library constructed from black oxidised steel.
• Modular cube displays for flexible merchandising.
• A large-scale hand-painted artwork by Melbourne Street artist Bailer.
• A full-length sensory bar for product tasting and brewing demonstrations.
The materials are predominantly industrial and monochromatic, chosen to contrast with T2’s iconic orange packaging, and to frame the product offer. The design incorporates controlled lighting, scent, and sound to create a focused environment for product exploration.
