Table of contents for No. 108 in (inside) interior design review

And so we come to the last issue of inside for the year and along with the wonderful projects and reviews we also present the winners and highly commended projects and practices of IDEA 2019. What a fabulous showcase of talent graces the pages of this magazine, where the best designs and designers have achieved the pinnacle of peer approval through the rigour of the IDEA awards. It has been a year of outstanding design and even though we have said this each year, the design bar has now been set at its highest point, and there is no doubt that Australian creatives are well and truly among the best in the world. We thank our incredible sponsors who enable the awards to grow and present the best of the…

Biasol Photography—James Morgan The popularity of bubble tea has been shaking up the beverage industry in recent years as the frothy, effervescent drink finds a market of faithful fans. Bubble tea is traditionally made with tea, fruit, milk or juice and little pearls of tapioca goodness. Ambrosia is the name we gave to a new tea brand and shop in an up-and-coming area of Shenzhen, China. The clients wanted an international studio to design their hospitality venue and brand, and engaged Biasol to help make their mark as fashionable, modern and mindful. Wanting to share an authentic taste of tea without the use of sugar, Ambrosia uses sensory loose-leaf teas and the finest natural honey. As Ambrosia fosters health, balance and happiness, we translated these values into the design of…

When I first started working in the industry, a supplier would call a design studio when they had something new to present. The studio would set aside an hour and invite all their staff along to learn about leather grain or the density of screen fabric. In today’s time-poor society this practice has fallen by the wayside and the industry as a whole has suffered. I recently worked on a project where the designers ordered bar stools from a catalogue only to discover, when the stools arrived onsite, that they were too tall for the tables they were intended to sit under. They’d forgotten to specify the correct height! A SUPPLIER IS A RESOURCE Most designers don’t have the time to sit down and study the spec sheet of every…

As a product designer Dale Hardiman is a success by any measure. There is the flourishing design company Dowel Jones with business partner Adam Lynch, a talent for designing furniture pieces that crucially hit the mark of public desirability, and the curation of a plethora of outstanding exhibitions that bring together the who’s who of Australian product design - all fused together with the Hardiman passion for creating. For someone so young, it’s difficult to digest the amount of architecture and design interaction and exposure that Hardiman has achieved. At just 29 this designer has a resumé that someone twice his age would be proud to own, but Hardiman is not just any designer. Let’s call him a maverick among his peers, willing to take a risk and also put…

Housed in an old theatre in the leafy suburb of Armadale in Melbourne, the space is vast, really vast, at 1400 square metres with ceiling heights of up to six metres. Additionally, the upper floor ceiling is arched with impressive Heritage detailing, most of which has been covered for decades. First opened in 1912, the theatre has been through a number of iterations, including cinema, vaudeville playhouse, toy factory, auction house and once even an indoor ski school complete with ski slope, which is possibly when the ceiling was hidden. Greg Natale’s task was to humanise the space, and create scale and backdrop to the furnishings, while delivering an accord with the James Said brand. Heritage concerns were also addressed, with Natale championing the decorative arch detailing and bringing this…

As the first project completed by Lucy Marczyk in her position as creative director of interior design at Cera Stribley, Thinkerbell is perfect. What’s not to like about hot pink and acid green on soft upholstery, graphics and decals? But of course the home of creative agency Thinkerbell is much more than simply its corporate colours; there is homage to Heritage, measured restraint, unexpected interactions and a wonderful flowing floorplan to bring everything together. Designing an interior for a single level workspace of 600 square metres within a Heritage building, Marczyk, managing principal of Cera Stribley, Chris Stribley and their team have achieved a creative hub that helps to define this communications agency with form, function and flair. The premises were previously a knitting mill in the inner city suburb…

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With nearly 500 submissions received for IDEA this year and a shortlist of 291, our illustrious jury was certainly presented with a challenging day to judge the winners and highly commended projects and objects over 14 categories and five special awards that comprised IDEA 2019. This year the jury convened in Sydney having enjoyed the Designer of the Year presentations the previous evening at the Shortlist Reveal event. The jury day was held at the beautiful CULT showroom in Chippendale and many thanks to the staff of CULT who cared for us wonderfully and supplied a private space to meet as well as sustenance throughout the day. With the breadth of talent and expertise between our seven jurors there was much knowledge to share. As in other years some categories…

Kennedy Nolan “Deep thought and intellectual rigour are the consistent foundations for the practice’s work. Each project displays a unique language specific to its context with the commonality being a clear and strong visual language, reinforced through the confident use of colour, texture and pattern making and often delighting in an evolving sequence of carefully considered vignettes.” – Jeff Copolov, IDEA 2019 Jury This year the IDEA Designer of the Year accolade has been awarded to Kennedy Nolan. As architects Rachel Nolan and Patrick Kennedy distil the essence of their architectural intention into every project, creating innovation and promoting connectivity between landscape, buildings and people. Patrick Kennedy and Rachel Nolan met as two young students studying architecture at Melbourne University and it was at this time they identified a true…

Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary School D –BVN P –Brett Boardman, John Gollings, Stefan Hefele “A highly considered and strategic adaptation of an existing building, in which the interiors give new life to the next generation of students. The design focuses on inspiring imagination, fostering communities and enhancing well-being. Congratulations to the team for setting a new benchmark in education environments.” – Dan Cox, IDEA 2019 Jury Comprising spaces that invite imagination and innovation, and support independent learning and well-being, the project reuses a rundown 1970s Brutalist building and includes the addition of a four-storey atrium, a new hall, arts space, balconies and rooftop playgrounds in prefabricated mass-timber construction. With a wealth of research in support of timber being used in learning spaces to promote wellness and better…

Flack Studio “It is with absolute delight that we award this year’s Editors’ Medal to a practice of extraordinary talent, flair and optimism. Defining a new generation in Australian interior design with exemplar projects both here and overseas, the team at Flack Studio have proved themselves consummate professionals in everything they undertake. Bringing colour, texture, sculpture, an extraordinary sense of style and just a little bit of mischief to every project, David Flack is one of those rare individuals to realise a very particular and singular vision. Spanning residential, colour, event, international, retail, residential multi and hospitality, the projects shortlisted for IDEA 2019 included 22 nominations across 13 projects: Caravan 2.0, Castorina Co, NGV Rigg Prize: ‘We’ve boundless plains to share’, Nth Fitzroy by Milieu, Pettigrew – Boyd house, Storey…

I have only been at the helm of Australian Design Review for a couple of months, but already I am inspired by just how vibrant and thought-provoking the Australian architecture and interior design industry is. I was born in Melbourne, but spent the past decade living and working in Florence, Italy. Like so many Aussies, I was awestruck by the feats of the European masters who had a centuries-long head start. Returning to Melbourne, I am taken aback by how much the city has changed, how it has grown and embraced its identity. The last time I explored these streets, I was a journalism student at RMIT University, completely oblivious to the fact that I walked, daily, through the doors of one of the city’s most iconic buildings – Ashton…

Alexander Pollock Interiors photography—Nicole England The project was for a newly married couple with children who were building a brand new home. Aaron Wong, principal designer at Alexander Pollock Interiors, was commissioned to design the interior of the house, which included kitchen, bathroom and internal colours. As an art enthusiast, the client had amassed many art and sculpture pieces and so the palette chosen was neutral to enhance and complement the collection without competing for attention. To balance out this neutral palette, strong sculptural furniture pieces were chosen with an assortment of different materials. One particular sculpture originating from Venice was quite kitsch and this was hung in the living area. Although this style of art is unusual, it worked well in the space and has become a feature as…

Moving into an inner city warehouse from an established home in the outer suburbs is an exciting and eventful decision for many empty nesters. While downsizing generally means condensing living into a smaller space, there is also a new lifestyle to embrace, with more café outings and ‘out to dinner’ soirées that occur with the faster pace of the city. Concurrently, architecture and interiors should reflect the change of postcode and so it is with Keano warehouse, a perfectly formed gem with outstanding facilities and an impressive floorplan for this multi-level home. Initially WOWOWA was commissioned to advise on details such as paint colours and other incidental design; however, the client quickly understood that to maximise the potential and provide ultimate requirement for the family a complete redesign and refit…

The world of retail is fast and trepidatious, particularly when taking a mid-century Italian vintage store from a cosy and known location to the fast lane of the high street. Granted, the vintage is more a collection of unique and iconic masterpieces but, still, nerves of steel are required. Moreover, a three-month turnaround from first concept to doors open was needed. For David Flack, a challenge is more or less a springboard for creative adventure. Yet, there is nothing frivolous or light about the design. Instead, a palette of deep and moody colours creates a serious backdrop to the very elegant tableaux. Making good use of the long thin footprint, the landscape of the interior reads as a series of room settings – dining, living and so forth with a…

Designed to make everything in the kitchen as seamless, effortless and flawless as possible, the Miele Generation 7000 built-in range is the largest new offering by any built-in manufacturer. With extraordinary new technology, the range features a selection of ovens, speed ovens, built-in coffee machines and Miele’s most powerful steam appliances (including steam-combination, straight steam and steam-microwave-combination ovens). Each comes equipped with revolutionary technology, enhanced connectivity and clear, intuitive user interfaces. New technologies include: – TasteControl—an automatic function that cools the oven rapidly after cooking to a maintenance temperature so food will not overcook, meat can rest and food can stay warm – FoodView—a camera integrated into the ceiling of the oven means you can monitor your cooking via your smartphone or tablet. You can even adjust the controls through…

Adele McNab Architect “The judges were unanimous in awarding this category. This young architect shows a design eye that is sensitive, mature and confident in her approach to design of interior space. The judges were particularly impressed with her ability to create a sense of richness with the use of simple materials, finishes and tones, and the crafting of compelling spaces with minimal and thoughtful intervention.” – Byron George, IDEA 2019 Jury With a single entry, Adele McNab’s project was so highly regarded by the IDEA 2019 jury that it became a natural fit to select her for emerging practice. Indeed, the quality of the Workplace Under 1000sqm project, Marrickville Warehouse, a speciality sausage factory and cooking school, was so very beautiful, and so well resolved it was clear that…

Mastani D –DesignOffice P –Haydn Cattach “The Mastani boutique translates an evolution and vision of inspired femininity through a layered environment that showcases the collection in a series of salons designed to create a sense of journey and discovery. A sense of calm and place is created through the selected colours, finishes and dedicated vignettes that guide customers through the collections.” – Nicholas Karlovasitis, IDEA 2019 Jury Responding directly to the brand vision of the founder, Kudrat Makkar – whose inspiration to start the label began as a child in India, accompanying her mother on studio visits to local textile artisans and craftspeople – the success of the store lies in its ability to facilitate an accumulative experience. The design maintains a feeling of openness and invitation leading the customer…

(OUYSE)/brass wall sconce_.. D –Studio Ephebe P –Pauline Tsolos “Somewhere between art and design object the luminaire is beautifully resolved as a warmly glowing jewel that seems to shimmer in space. An extraordinary piece from this fine young studio.” – Jan Henderson and Gillian Serisier, co-editors inside Individually crafted in Melbourne, each jewellery-like piece of functional sculpture and collectable design is uniquely created to evoke intimacy through the oyster-like form that borrows from nature a wild beauty that is art-by-day and light-by-night. Conveying a meditation on mood lighting and natural forms that inspire intimacy in living and dining spaces, the form evolved from a simple sketch, depicting an organic shell adorned with jewellery-like ornamentation. This form evolved into a gesture emulating an oyster and illuminated pearl within the resultant form.…

Arup Melbourne D –HASSELL and Arup P –Earl Carter “A masterful approach to both planning and design, this workplace is a living showcase of Arup’s people, process and expertise. Great thought has been given to volume and scale; the result is a highly connected interior that promotes innovation and community engagement.” – Dan Cox, IDEA 2019 Jury The unique collaboration between HASSELL and Arup’s multidisciplinary teams led to the development and implementation of new design and construction techniques, allowing them to push the boundaries of workplace design while keeping within the constraints of a standard industry budget. Spread over three floors, the workspace is disrupted by expansive voids with mezzanines inserted to create a cascading, terraced effect resulting in five separate levels. Arup’s day-to-day active culture is on show across…

Sibling Espresso D –Travis Walton Architecture P –Elisa Watson L–Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia “This carefully judged sculptural stage set is the perfect tableau for playing out the theatre of coffee. Barista, patron and light activate the negative spaces formed by the harmonious interlocking sculptural planes that slide effortlessly from inside to out. The reduced palette of steel, concrete and mirror is tempered by the warmth of timber and sensitive lighting.” – Jeff Copolov, IDEA 2019 Jury A hole-in-the-wall concept where Melburnian devotion to the perfect coffee drives a design response, and where customer connection to the barista and showcasing the brew defines the experience. Branding integrates via subtle plays of materiality and shadow. Working with precision finishes of in situ poured concrete with laser cut steel accents and large steel framed…

1– Anson Smart As a teenager Smart aspired to be a pilot; however, after completing an aviation science degree, flying and then living in San Francisco, he discovered a passion for photography. Many years later he is in demand shooting interiors, architecture and lifestyle projects. His aim is to make images that are modern and relaxed yet timeless and his work has been published worldwide in such magazines as Australian Gourmet Traveller, Vogue Living, ELLE Decoration UK, Town and Country US, Food & Wine, Bon Appétit and Conde Nast Traveller UK and US. 2– Sharyn Cairns Sharyn Cairns is at the forefront of commercial photography in Australia with a specialist portfolio spanning interiors, food, travel and lifestyle. She is committed to creating beautiful images that capture a mood and an…

Practice Studio Tate Photography—Thomas Brooke Photography Inspired by neighbouring luxury fashion houses such as Bvlgari, Hermès and Balenciaga, Luxe Mall Amenities by Studio Tate located at Chadstone – The Fashion Capital, elevates the humble restroom experience to a sense of inspired occasion. Including lavish expanses of Norwegian rose marble, chrome metal detailing and fluted glass, the new conveniences are akin to a high-end hotel, reflecting the desire to offer guests a truly world-class experience when visiting the mall. With luxury handbag as muse, form and flare on the outside and surprising detail from within, Studio Tate’s scheme ratifies a high attention to detail and material quality associated with high-end fashion. From the main thoroughfare a panelled corridor has been conceived as a series of spaces defined by arched thresholds and…

The About A Chair is arguably the new go-to chair for a high quality, comfortable chair at a reasonable price point. Marketed through HAY and in turn by Cult Design in Australia, it is the chair that has fame, well beyond the designer himself. And this is just as the designer, Hee Welling, would have it. With a background that starts with a year of art school, followed by architecture and design school, Welling’s degree then switched back and forth between the Royal Academy of Arts in Copenhagen and the University of Design in Helsinki. To say that he is grounded somewhat misses the mark. Rather, he has very methodically covered all aspects of design, including spatial design, plus a six-month internship in Vietnam, where the ability to engineer and…

As baby fashion boutiques go they don’t come any better than the new Marquise flagship store located in the Malvern Central shopping centre complex in Melbourne. This is a retail experience that is as much about the mother as it is the child and, along with an atmosphere that oozes relaxation and comfort, purchasing baby clothes becomes a pleasure on every level. Mardi Doherty, principal of Doherty Design Studio, along with associate Phoebe Lipscombe, has created a little slice of baby heaven in this new interior project that combines a fine touch of colour, thoughtful utilisation of materials and clever inclusions to showcase the store and, most importantly, the product. The interior of Marquise is near 60 square metres and the premises, situated on a corner, were just an unassuming…

Art, particularly large-scale art, is an area where most designers are at sea. Again, HASSELL has proved itself consummate with an interior scale that manages to hold both monumental projections and intimate dining. Starting with a residential development and retail tenancy, the restaurant site was tenant-ready in plasterboard and aluminium. The client, however, was a known entity having initially commissioned HASSELL to create a pastry kitchen some years previous. With a driving passion for art and, in particular, the art of Reko Rennie and Shaun Gladwell, Di Stasio was never going to be an out of the box restaurant. Rather, both client and design team, led by HASSELL associate Di Ritter, were ready to allow the space to inform their decisions to effectively ‘feel’ the space towards something exceptional. “The…

When it comes to residential design, whether it be minimalist or maximalist, designers are creating unique interiors as a truly personal reflection of the client, their needs and lifestyle choices. Home is a refuge, a sanctuary from the outside world where one can retreat and entertain, away from the white noise, to connect with ourselves, our families and, when we so desire, our friends. Sustainability and wellness are paramount; natural materials, a low carbon footprint, nature inspired colour tones and palette are at the forefront of design concepts. Within the continuation of open plan living, the desire for even greater flow by simultaneously bringing the outdoors in, while also extending the indoors out, is an overriding principle. Add to this, new innovations in residential products and technology for maximum effect.…

Dangrove Art Storage Facility D –Tzannes P –Ben Guthrie “Subtle restraint and a masterful manipulation of space and scale have created an interior that is both calm, breathtaking and absolutely fit for purpose. This project has a level of richness the belies its humble material palette of concrete, glass and steel. A perfect balance of light, proportion and scale.” – Byron George, IDEA 2019 Jury The project showcases the ever-important integral approach of interior design and architecture. The journey through these spaces is choreographed, enhancing viewing opportunities and encounters of the collection. Organised over two levels of 10,000 square metres of internal space, the upper floor presents the ‘front of house’ experience with reception, library and research, a sculpture courtyard and two large art evaluation spaces. Providing capacity for functions…