Cumulus Studio has commenced work on a project called The Protagonist, which is located outside Arts Centre Melbourne at Southbank on St Kilda Road.

Director and project architect Keith Westbrook said the project was the result of an Arts Centre Melbourne design competition, which invited and challenged architecture practices to design a "unique and memorable" home for the site's forecourt cafe.

"The project is for Arts Centre Melbourne and it's to replace an existing cafe which they had on St Kilda Road, and it's also then encompassing some other features such as a bar and ticketing for their theatre events," he said.

He said as part of the competition, Cumulus was one of four architecture studios pitching ideas.

"The concept is about uncovering or bringing out aspects of the theatre which are currently hidden behind the solid walls of the State Theatre building," he said.

He said the main idea was primarily around a red curtain which would act as a device to signify when the cafe was open or closed.

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"We have this screen veil which wraps around the cafe which is all automated, so during the morning they will actually physically lift up to be open, then at night close down again," he said.

"The curtain also creates an opportunity to project light artwork at night."

Another feature of the new cafe will be golden Kaynemaile that was used for the exterior. The fire and UV resistant polycarbonate chainmail mesh was originally developed as chainmail for the Lord of the Rings films.

Cumulus was founded in Tasmania, with offices in Launceston, Hobart, and Melbourne.

Mr Westbrook is based in Cumulus' Melbourne office, but lived in Tasmania and studied in Launceston prior to making the move.

"We've got a team in our Melbourne office but we do all work together as one big studio, so it is pretty exciting for us to have this kind of opportunity," he said.

Construction on The Protagonist is well underway.

"It's going to be open in the start of November, so very, very soon. It's a very quick build," Mr Westbrook said.

For more information, visit cumulus.studio.