Table of contents for No. 111 in (inside) interior design review

Place has been at the forefront of mind. It’s the theme of this issue. my The lynchpin that holds all our projects together. The driver for all our featured architects and designers. Perhaps it’s front and centre because the rest of the world feels further away than ever before. Perhaps unable to look outwards, we’re turning inwards. We reflect on our identity and ask ourselves how it translates into our design. Place is a word that’s used a lot in this industry. For me, it has always been about how a project interacts with its landscape, its context, the unspoken history that defines the soil on which it was built. It transcends aesthetics and engages in a relationship with everything around it. Nothing is built in isolation. Or it shouldn’t…

The allure of colour is undeniable, but its wholesale use in product design is a relatively recent development. A Century of Colour in Design explores how colour has influenced furniture, fabric, lights and decorative objects from Bauhaus to Memphis in a beautifully compact anthology. Author and Sydney-based design journalist and interiors stylist David Harrison tells the stories of 250 of the century’s most notable pieces of furniture and objects. “It’s interesting just how little importance was given to the application or integration of colour into domestic objects prior to World War I,” writes Harrison. “By the late ’30s and early ’40s, colour was starting to pervade the everyday lives of millions of people.” Few objects represent that shift better than Russel Wright’s American Modern tableware. With nature-inspired names, this ceramic…

Known for delivering a highly considered response to clients and site, Esoteriko creates versatile interiors with an emphasis on light, material and colour. Anna Trefely’s solo endeavour transpired organically after she was approached by a new client to undertake a major project soon after becoming a mother for the first time. “Any fears or apprehensions I may have had lifted once motherhood triggered a deep passion for architecture and interiors. It completely changed my perception of things. I realised I wanted more autonomy and flexibility,” she notes. “Opportunities then began to open up freely. With a renewed sense of passion, rigour became even more important, and to continually strive for excellence.” Naming the practice ‘esoteriko’, an Ancient Greek word meaning ‘inside’ or ‘within’, referring to the secret teachings or inner…

Longevity is an interesting concept in days like these. For many people the last few months have felt like while for others the same/ years, same of day after day of restricted activities and lifestyles has actually felt like time has shrunk and we no longer know what month it is, never mind the day of the week. This is the when we all learned a whole raft of new year phrases that swiftly became part of our everyday vernacular. ‘Flattening the curve’, ‘working from home (WFH)’, ‘social distancing’, ‘second wave’… this last one became particularly pertinent in Victoria during July, and an ominous idea for other states around Australia. But one of the biggest lessons of the upsurge in COVID-19 cases that came along just when there was a…

HAYMES PAINT ULTIMATE PROTECTIVE COATINGS Ultimate is a range of high performance protective coatings designed to suit a range of surfaces and substrates. Its water-based, environmentally aware products a of durable encompass range epoxies, polyurethanes and anti-graffiti coatings, available across a number of base and sheen levels. Ultimate coatings are safe, easy to use and perfectly suited in both commercial and residential applications. haymespaint.com.au HERMAN MILLER COSM Sit in Cosm, and you just might forget you’re sitting in a chair at all. Its sophisticated ergonomic design instantly responds to your body, movement and posture to provide natural balance and total support. Cosm’s Auto-Harmonic Tilt, Intercept suspension and flexible frame work together to give you a feeling of weightlessness. Studio 7.5 ’s Cosm’s Leaf Arms provide a large, cosy resting place…

This year IDEA turns 18! As one of Australia’s oldest architecture and interior design awards, we’re pretty excited about this milestone. These last few months have been tough. I feel particularly for our vibrant creative and design community – the talented individuals and small businesses that are experiencing unprecedented challenges in unprecedented circumstances. Like so many others, I have, at times, felt helpless, but I truly believe that IDEA, in its own little way, has a role to play as we adapt to this ‘new normal’. I was overwhelmed by the industry’s response to this year’s program. Thank you to every single person who entered. Your projects are incredible and the people behind them inspirational. IDEA has always been a platform for recognising, celebrating and promoting practices big and small,…

'MOODY MOUNTAIN MODERN' – THE BELGRAVE HOTEL REFURBISHMENT SOUL SHAPES Stephanie Rooney This project includes a private function room/lounge designed specifically for diners and patrons to settle into a world of warmth, mystery and intrigue. Drawing on colour psychology and chromotherapy, it generates a deep connection with hotel patrons. A CAFE CALLED JOHN TERROIR ARCHITECTS PTY LTD Derek Swalwell This bold café is a shameless reference to 1970s Italian cafè interiors. Colour is applied to all surfaces, evoking a sense of nostalgia and providing a strong interior 'personality'. ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES ALKIMI STUDIO Nicholas Smith This workplace celebrates a multi-faceted design, balancing artificial playfulness and biophilic natural warmth through the strategic application of paint, flooring, fabrics, graphics and wayfinding. BALMORAL BLUE HOUSE ESOTERIKO Dave Wheeler Influenced by the restrained rigour of…

STEFANIE MARKIDIS Stefanie Markidis is an arts and culture writer working in Melbourne. With a long-standing career in magazine journalism, Stefanie has written for The Melbourne Weekly, Inpress magazine and Ramona magazine, where she was the founding creative writing editor. Having recently completed a doctorate at RMIT’s College of Design and Social Context, Stefanie brings to inside an appreciation for the conceptual and creative processes of interior design and architecture. GILLIAN SERISIER Gillian Serisier is a widely published design writer specialising in the fields of interior design, architecture and art. For the past 15 Gillian has been a contributor to notable years publications, gaining a reputation for her sharp eye. She was, most recently, co-editor of inside and is currently plotting a trip to Paris to explore the eclectic world…

In his slim but enormously influential 1933 book on the Japanese aesthetic In Praise of Shadows, Junichiro Tanizaki warns against the “evils of excessive illumination”. “We find beauty not in the thing itself, but in the patterns of shadows, the light and the darkness, that one thing against another creates… Were it not for shadows, there would be no beauty,” he writes. Architect Luke Hayward fears it may be clichéd to cite Tanizaki as a reference for his latest Terrace house project. “It’s on every architect’s bookshelf at this point,” he says. “But Shadows has a way of shaking you free of existing perceptions about how you have to use light and shade in a house, certainly coming from the Australian perspective.” Raised in New South Wales and Queensland and…

A solitary and social icon based on minimalism and diversity, the Maki easy chair has a simple, innovative and self-evident form offering plenty of possibilities. Designed by Jin Kuramoto for Swedish furniture company Offecct, it was first presented at this ’s Stockholm Furniture year Fair. Its unconventional structure with an hollow in the open space back was a challenge, requiring Offecct’s craftsmanship, and draws inspiration from its namesake – the famous Japanese maki rolls. “The chair has a strong and symbolic shape, while being flexible in applications and functions,” says Jin Kuramoto. “It can be used to work, rest, meet and wait – as a lone icon with a strong personal presence or together in different formations.” Founding his own design studio in Tokyo in 2008, Kuramoto is known for…

This year’s judges have worked tirelessly in the most difficult of circumstances with incredible patience and good humour. They are trailblazers and institutions. Their work is reshaping the design landscape, but their approach is anything but cavalier. They practise design with a strong sense of care and consideration, not just for the people who inhabit their spaces, but the industry as a whole, and we couldn’t be prouder to have them at the helm of IDEA 2020. ANDREW PARR DIRECTOR, INTERIOR DESIGN, SJB One of Australia’s leading interior designers, Andrew Parr has been setting the standard for high-end residential and hospitality design for more than 20 years. Andrew’s unique interpretations of contemporary minimalist style are particularly suited to clients who value ideas as much as they value longevity. Andrew founded…

BUFF NAIL STUDIOS GOLDEN Sharyn Cairns Beyond a ‘hole in the wall’ on a busy shopping strand, a discreet hallway leads to this project, where manicure stations and pedicure lounges await under a sculpted vaulted ceiling, which gently references forms of the hand. CASTLE TOWERS FOOD RETAIL PRECINCT LUCHETTI KRELLE WITH OLIVER WATTS Greg Fonne Collaborating with Sydney artist Oliver Watts, this food precinct extends beyond customary food court concepts with biophilic references, superior material choices and specialised lighting to augment its immersive offering. CAW 2.0 MEGAN RYAN Liam Patrick A series of bespoke joinery ‘islands’ are strategically designed to provide unique opportunities to display and interact with merchandise in CAW 2.0. Intersections of natural and artificial materials are layered throughout the space. CHISELED HAIR MELBOURNE OLSK WITH ELVIN TAN…

ALICE SERIES KOSKELA PTY LTD Nick de Lorenzo This chair and barstool range with a bent steel frame was specially designed so it could be manufactured by CAT, an Aboriginal-owned and controlled business based in Alice Springs, which works to develop the skills and experiences of people living in the Red Centre. ARMALUGI EMMANUEL MASTIO David Curzon Leveraging a global utility patent by inventor and designer Emmanuel Mastio, the Arma armchair and the Lugi chaise longue with side and coffee tables are made from sustainable solid timber with high quality fabric and hide leather. AVION KEITH MELBOURNE Mr. P Studio This innovative soft architectural system of modular wall, seating and table elements invites the creation of progressive workplaces by reducing the scale of spatial design to that of the furniture.…

AGILE WORKPLACE FITOUT, SYDNEY COX ARCHITECTURE Nicole England The fitout embraces the SMART technologies designed within the base building architecture to minimise the effect on the environment and the user’s footprint. Additionally, the workplace has been designed in accordance with WELL. COGNIZANT HEAD OFFICE, SYDNEY ALKIMI STUDIO Toby Peet This project is currently undergoing accreditation with the GBCA, with the expectation that this fitout will be awarded a 6-Star Green Star rating. It is also expected that the fitout will achieve a 5-Star NABERS rating. HOTEL CHADSTONE MELBOURNE, MGALLERY BY SOFITEL DWP AUSTRALIA WITH BATES SMART Sharyn Cairns Careful material selection and planning has contributed to this hotel becoming the first luxury Australian hotel to receive a 5-Star Green Star Design and As Built rating. BURWOOD BRICKWORKS RUSSELL & GEORGE…

IDEA 2020 comprises many special awards and one of the most prestigious is the Gold Medal award. This accolade is given as a tribute to those who have contributed their talent to enriching the design landscape of Australia. It is bestowed in recognition of those practitioners who have worked tirelessly throughout their career to achieve the greatest heights and in so doing have influenced their industry in ways that are both enduring and iconic. Last year’s recipient of the Gold Medal Award was the formidable Andrew Parr, founder and director of SJB Interiors. His honorary video is available to view on ADR. His more than 1000 completed projects throughout the 32 years of his tenure with SJB have won countless awards and accolades. Moreover, his mentorship has shaped the talent…

SHOP RAF SIMONS X KVADRAT PHOTO CASPER SEJERSEN Drawing on his innate sense of style as well as wide-ranging interests in modern art, design, music, graphics and architecture, Belgian designer Raf Simons has developed two new bold and sure-handed fabrics in his ongoing collaboration with global textile design company Kvadrat. Constructed to resemble the texture and sheen of Astrakhan, Helia is a bouclé textile with an organic, structured design that swirls across the surface in a woven interpretation of fur. While Silas achieves exceptional volume and softness through an extraordinarily complex finishing process. kvadratmaharam.com/ READ DESIGN IN ASIA: THE NEW WAVE Featuring first-hand accounts and gorgeous images, Design in Asia: The New Wave reveals the inspirations, collaborations, challenges and opportunities of 97 young designers pushing the possibilities of furniture, product…

There are a few qualities that define Ohlo Studio: exploiting the magic of light, focusing on the micro and macro of the design, and ensuring the materiality and detail are engrained throughout the entire project. Yet, for director, Jen Lowe, the most potent motif is how the practice collaborates with its clients on design that works for its user – creating spaces that aim for longevity, growing with the owner. Based in Perth, Ohlo Studio’s projects are varied – from commercial projects like an Italian ‘jewellery box’ coffee shop to a Bollywood-inspired, Bombay street-side style Indian canteen. Or in its residential designs, which span beachfront, laid-back refuges and sun-bathed family homes. Across all her designs, Lowe envisions a welcoming space for her clients. For residential projects, she adds comfort, invigoration…

Ten years ago, Brigitte Hafner sat down and wrote a manifesto to one day cook somewhere that had heart, wine, music, nature, architecture, stories, theatre and joy. In a journey that took her from Guy Grossi’s kitchen to Gertrude Street Enoteca, she found herself in a little weatherboard cottage, behind a carved wooden door shaped like an antique French trencher, shelling peas at a 10,000-year-old blackened table in front of a brick hearth named after her mother. In other words, she found her haven in Osteria Tedesca, opened in Red Hill in December of last year and designed by COX Architecture. An unexpected choice? That depends on whom you ask. We’ve come to expect that the country’s biggest firms will stay in their lanes. COX Architecture recently completed Melbourne’s Rod…

“I am learning to see my perfectionism as an asset rather than a barrier to creativity.” When did you first become interested in the world of design and architecture? My first experience in the industry was a two-week work experience stint at a local architectural practice in year 10. To me, architecture was a synthesis of both my creative and practical mindsets and it felt like the right fit for my skill set. What’s your experience of being a young female architect? My experience has been one of empowerment. During my studies I spent a long time dwelling on the meaning and thesis of my designs, which I believe led me to approach design with conviction. In practice things are very different; you need to trust your instincts and be…

A campus is never a singular space, it is a place of connection and creativity; it is the foundation for the coming together of people and ideas united in a common endeavour. That’s the inspiration behind Shaw Contract’s latest collection. The commercial flooring company headquartered in Cartersville, Georgia, but with showrooms in Melbourne and Sydney, designs and manufactures carpet and resilient products that give foundation to spaces and support to the people within them. The Campus collection, inspired by Bauhaus, works on those principles of collaboration and experimentation to create designs that merge and adapt across multi-use spaces. “The Campus collection is rooted in patterns and tones that work across multi-use spaces to meet the activities that are at the heart of any corporate or educational campus,” explains Shaw Contract.…

ASCOT RESIDENCE DARREN JAMES INTERIORS Cathy Schusler The project presents an overall inspiration of a European art hotel with iconic international designs, splashes of colour and mixes of textures used throughout. This sense of fun luxury balanced the traditional architectural elements. AVIAN APARTMENT ALICIA HOLGAR Shannon McGrath A light and luxurious refurbishment of a Brisbane city apartment, this project echoes Harry Seidler's sentiments within the architecture: form and function evolved through a play on curves, cantilevers and art as an integrated expression of ingenuity. EAST MELBOURNE RESIDENCE SIMONE HAAG IN COLLABORATION WITH LIZ HALL Armelle Habib Working with the client and merging fashion and form, colour and texture, the designer paired both contemporary and Italian vintage to create a tableau of chic, elegant pieces in this Victorian terrace. HAWTHORN HOUSE…