Table of contents for No. 104 (Nov-Feb) - IDEA Winners in (inside) interior design review

Welcome to issue 104 and the last inside for 2018. This year has been a design whirlwind and seems to have passed way too quickly; however, the gala party for the Interior Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) in November was a grand way to say goodbye to the year. Speaking of IDEA, what a spectacular array of winners and highly commended practices, projects and objects grace the pages of this issue. We see creativity and innovation shine through with talent in abundance. Australian designers, architects and object makers are indeed inspirational in all that they have achieved this year and IDEA 2018 has showcased the very best projects and objects that the practitioners in our country have to offer. Congratulations to all who received accolades and to all who were shortlisted…

The rise of online educational tools means now, more than ever, students are able to access educational resources remotely; meaning the challenge for universities is to attract students to, and retain them, on campus. In 2016, international education’s value to Australia surpassed $20 billion, making it the country’s third-biggest earner and consequently one of the most competitive industries. Universities are now asking themselves, ‘how do we convince someone who’s 18 that our campus is the one they want to attend?’ Because of this, leading higher education establishments are beginning to understand that it’s not enough to provide cutting-edge teaching facilities. There is a need to place a greater focus on design and master planning campus-wide, to give students places to linger, whether that’s for studying, relaxing or socialising. Indeed, university…

“It was as simple as I stopped buying Vogue and started buying Vogue Living.” NINA MAYA Having graduated with a design degree from UNSW COFA (now UNSW Art and Design), majoring in textiles and graphics, Nina Maya took a position with Italian fashion house Grazia Bagnaresi just outside of Bologna. After only three months the matriarch offered Maya the opportunity to design her own range, which effectively meant creating a line of samples to bring to Australia. The dream run for Maya had only just begun, with David Jones picking up this untried designer, who suddenly found herself the head of a design house at the age of 21. Over the following six years her business grew to supply stores nationally as well as both Myer and David Jones.…

Approaching each project as a unique entity, Killing Matt Woods (KMW) produces interiors that are never expected, always interesting and, more importantly, completely relevant to area, client and aspiration. This is a rarity, despite most designers considering this tactic to be their own. For Percy Plunkett, even the delicious name comes from an approach that speaks to the project’s quintessence. Indeed, when researching the history of the house, Killing Matt Woods director, Matt Woods, went through council records and found that Percy Plunkett was actually a previous owner. Really. In fact, after the café was complete, the descendants of Percy Plunkett held their reunion there. Nice. What makes the project unique within the KMW oeuvre is the very, very pretty nature of the tonal shifts, floral motif and attention to…

With 278 shortlisted projects and products in IDEA this year our jury members were presented with a challenging day to judge the winners and highly commended projects and objects for the 13 categories and four special awards in review.This year the jury day was held in Melbourne at the Miele showroom and the care and comfort that was shown to all who attended was and substantial. Our generous thanks to Ben and his team at Miele for their hospitality, most especially for providing a wonderful Miele lunch that was enjoyed by all. The jury this year comprises seven industry heavyweights: Christopher Boots (director, Christopher Boots), David Flack (founding director, Flack Studio), Hamish Guthrie (director, Hecker Guthrie), Iain Halliday (director, BKH), Jan O’Connor (managing partner, environa), Christie Petsinis (director, Folk Architects)…

DesignOffice “DesignOffice has exhibited an exceptional portfolio of projects for the year across a number of varied categories. Each project, while furthering the studio’s ideas and bearing its unmistakable hallmarks, directly responds to the client’s brief with clarity and purpose. Each delivers skilfully a crafted interior of purposeful restraint, rigour, meticulous detail.... and all delivered at an enviable high and consistent standard. The studio’s work is always underpinned by considered thought, research and rigorous process.” – Hamish Guthrie, IDEA 2018 Jury “Offering an exceptional body of work that shows range and agility within a defined and highly detailed aesthetic of extraordinary quality, DesignOffice has constantly impressed and deservedly receives this and all accolades.” – Jan Henderson and Gillian Serisier, coeditors, inside The recipient of this year’s esteemed Designer of the…

Kowan D– Makiko Ryujin P – Makiko Ryujin The Japanese philosophy kowan ni shitagau is the guiding principle of this project. Kowan explores the lived and aesthetic of kowan ni shitagau, a philosophy tied to the idea that the intent of a piece is within the natural material and it is the role of the artist to assist the object to express itself. While it is most commonly associated with the tradition of Japanese rock gardens, that is, the placement of the rock to express its will, not the will of the gardener, the premise is equally applicable to Makiko Ryujin’s approach to working with wood. She uses green wood, sourced by lopping offcuts to minimise the impact upon the environment. This means the timber is moist and soft in…

Roche D– HASSELL P – Nicole England “The planning of this workplace by HASSELL, for Roche, maximises the natural daylight and external views of The Bond building, Sydney, while the selection of a soft muted colour palette highlights the varying textural qualities of the selected materials. The space has a contemporary and sophisticated feel throughout with the development of a cohesive design and a singular design intent, which brings a sense of calm and serenity to the space, while enhancing the expansive qualities to the interior volumes.” – Kirsten Stanisich, IDEA 2018 Jury “Centred by a living atrium, the balance of workplace and human connectedness is fully realised in a design environment that understands its staff needs as primary.” – Jan Henderson and Gillian Serisier, co-editors inside Swapping a beachside,…

Four Periscopes D– TRIAS P – Benjamin Hosking Four Periscopes is a playful installation that inspires engagement. Four suspended, plywood-clad towers invite visitors to move around the museum, looking up, down, around and out. Each periscope contains a matrix of concealed mirrors, which connect people on the balconies to the ground, and from one tower to another. Part of the joy of the installation lies in witnessing unexpected interactions, and in deciphering how each tower works. The work is at once visually simple and technically complex. Commissioned by Sydney’s Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS), the brief requested an installation within MAAS’ Turbine Hall, a vast, cavernous space that is experienced from multiple vantage points. The work also needed to address the themes within the museum’s Common Good exhibition,…

1– 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 emotion, playing with light and shadows to create levels of depth and distinctive memorable scenes. Her work is featured in international and local magazines such as Gourmet Traveller, Vogue Living, Belle, Elle Decoration UK and Dwell, and she has photographed numerous cookbooks for well-known chefs such as Maggie Beer and Guy Grossi. Sharyn is also co-author and photographer of the book Perfect Imperfect. 2– Dave Wheeler Sydney-based photographer Dave Wheeler began developing his eye for photography shortly after finishing his studies in animation and industrial design. After a short stint working on the…

1- Rigg Design Prize NGV Victoria – 24 February 2019 Responding to the theme of Domestic Living, 10 of Australia’s leading interior designers are participating in the triennial Rigg Design Prize, where each of the designers creates a room within the gallery. In alphabetical order, the participants are: Amber Road, Arent&Pyke, Danielle Brustman, David Flack, David Hicks, Hecker Guthrie, Martyn Thompson Studio, Richards Stanisich, Scott Weston Architecture Design and The Society Inc by Sibella Court. “The participants’ concepts are thoughtful reflections of interior spaces and their ability to shift perceptions and tell personal stories of place and identity,” says Tony Ellwood, NGV director. And, drum roll, the winner is... Hecker Guthrie. 2- Nick Cave: Until Carriageworks, Sydney 23 November – 3 March 2019 Until, a play on the phrase ‘innocent…

For anyone who has attempted the pilgrimage to Milan for the annual Salone del Mobile, the experience is always a magical one. The city is alive with design and the exhibition centre of Rho is a sensory overload of products, colour and people. With a visit to Rho comes the difficult decision of which pavilions and brands to visit, and one of the must-see exhibits is always Edra, the stand that has a taste for the dramatic, an electric atmosphere and products that are showstopping in presentation. Since establishment in 1987, Edra has been at the forefront of furniture design, collaborating with some of the most highly respected designers of our time, and the story of the company is one that combines architecture, science and poetry. Edra has shown an…

inside: How long have you lived here and what drew you to the property? Yasmine Ghoniem: We purchased the property in November of 2017. We spent six months renovating, then work commitments had me in Melbourne for a month as we prepared for the Rigg Design Prize, so I’ve only really spent about six nights total in its finished state, believe it or not. We loved the property for its location (my husband’s a mad surfer) and sensible layout mainly. Its green and butter cream terrazzo stairwells also struck a chord. It shares no common walls and has no internal corridor, meaning absolutely no space is wasted. It has great tall ceilings and even sports a vestibule, which is pretty rare in an apartment setting. When did you produce this…

After a three-year overhaul to its supply chain, Fibonacci Stone is now the only Australian terrazzo stone company with a totally planned inventory, meaning that its entire collection is available right now, not just a smattering of odds, ends and project leftovers. “We have finally turned the tables in favour of the designer and the client,” says creative director, Michael Karakolis. “We’re well aware of the exacting nature of our clients – the architects, designers and the specifiers – and they abhor having to choose the next available option. It dilutes their design intent, leads to heartbreak for both designer and client, and results in unwanted compromise and blowouts in completion dates,” he says. “Truly unique products, the ones that can’t be replicated, can make such a significant contribution to…

Pirouttes, jetés, fouettés and arabesques are wonderful movements of dance that help create the theatre that is a ballet performance. Our very own Australian Ballet, performs regularly at home and abroad and, as one of the best ballet companies in the world, is both cherished and revered. However, the beauty of the ballet performance disguises the hard work, discipline and sacrifice the dancers must make and maintain to create their effortless artistry. There are hours of practice and then the constant problem of injury with rehabilitation and recuperation to be considered, and these are required to be addressed in-house. With the completion of the new facilities in Southbank, Melbourne, The Australian Ballet now has a ‘back-of-house’ to match the prowess of the company and the renovation is revolutionary in both…

The American furniture manufacturer Emeco has been a beacon of innovative and sustainable design since the company’s establishment in 1944. The classic 1006 Navy chair, designed for the US Navy, was the first product to roll off the production line and is as modern and relevant now as it was 70 years ago. Emeco understands that excellent design should stand the test of time, and embrace practicality, but also embody the very essence of sustainability, and so its first product set the agenda and the Navy chair was designed to last a staggering 150 years! The latest offering from Emeco builds on this fine tradition of design with the advent of the 1 inch Reclaimed designed by Jasper Morrison. The 1 inch Reclaimed is the latest addition to the 1…

RITZ&GHOUGASSIAN “Mature use of materials creating a symphony of spaces, combined with an honest, very Australian approach to existing palettes, shows this emerging firm’s promise for the years ahead – watch this space. Light and space are used in appropriate quantities and qualities, marking their projects with a sense of timelessness.” – Christopher Boots, IDEA 2018 Jury “Strong and engaging projects in both residential and commercial spheres – a true distinctive style set very early in their career. It’s refreshing to see a brand so concise and consistent from the outset.” – David Flack, IDEA 2018 Jury “Offering one of the most impressive bodies of work from an emerging practice, RITZ&GHOUGASSIAN’s aesthetic has an assured clarity and attention to detail that will assure its place in the spotlight.” – Jan…

dedece Melbourne D– CO-AP P – Ross Honeysett A room with two views has been fully explored by a T-shaped mezzanine floor being inserted to form two double-height void spaces, which are dramatically framed by two new corner windows. A sculptural staircase set within one of the voids breaks the internal spatial symmetry of the new furniture showroom. Housed within a former goods warehouse, located within an industrial estate, the building’s typology comprised a double-height warehouse and loading dock with an adjoining two-storey administration unit at the rear. Existing façade openings within the external tilt-up panel skin were closed, while the new internal structure facilitated the addition of 4.4-metre high window bays at each corner and side to activate views of the park and an existing mature tree within the…

Pacific Bondi D– Amber Road P – Prue Ruscoe Breaking free from predictable coastal palettes, the design provides a sophisticated new abode. Formerly a room in the Swiss Grande Hotel, the once boxy and bland interior is transformed into a sculptural and textural wonderland. Sporting low ceilings and no natural light, the building saw everything demolished except for the kitchen and bath. The journey commenced with a vintage Saporiti dining table. Lines between inside and out have been blurred through the application of hardier materials to internal settings like the raw sawn, pitted limestone tiles, which have replaced exiting timber flooring. Reflective ceramic tiles, inset as a feature strip, amplify the path from the front door to the balcony. To bridge and articulate living and dining areas, an eight-metre long…

Willinga Park, Reception Building D– Cox Architecture and Sally Hieatt Interiors P – Alina Gozin’a Located on a hilly, 40-hectare coastal property, Willinga Park is an equestrian centre that responds to the client’s bold vision to create a place to showcase Australian stock horses, while celebrating the spectacular coastal location. The result is the best equestrian facility in Australia, capable of hosting international competitions and providing unparalleled amenities and visitor experience – all with an absolute focus on art and design. The reception building functions as a flexible welcome and event space and is sited alongside the main, 250-seat Grand Prix Arena. Used for both public and private events, it offers various lounging, meeting and workspaces – each providing a unique experience for the user to appreciate the design and…

Doherty Design Studio It is with great pleasure that we award the IDEA 2018 Editors’ Medal to Doherty Design studio. Principal Mardi Doherty has presented an outstanding range of projects that speak of consummate design, meticulous attention to detail and interior innovation of the highest order. Doherty established Doherty Design studio in 2013 after a stellar career both in Australia and England, and now the practice of five full-time and two part-time staff is one of the best in the country. With at least 15 projects on the drawing board at any one time, the studio is in demand, with Doherty maintaining a hands-on approach with each and every commission. The main direction of the studio is within the single residential genre of design and whether the project is a…

Resident Dog Well-known to the design community Nicole England’s photography has graced all interior and architectural media. Her eye is sharp, composed and always with a knack for teasing the detail from the whole. Here her talent for interior photography is paired with her love of dogs; more specifically she has posited the gloriously appointed architectural homes as the home of the dog that resides there. Rightly so. What makes the book a delight for interior design devotees is the transformative nature of time. And it is here that we see the true evolution of a life lived. Cookie’s home by Cavill Architects in Brisbane, for example, has transformed since images were first seen and is now the cascading jungle it was meant to be. Meanwhile in Surry Hills the…

Vicki West is an artist extraordinaire who makes beautiful objects that capture the essence of the sea and pay homage to her ancestors. As a member of the Trawlwoolway people from the north-east coastal region of Tasmania, West is steeped in the culture and customs of her land and people. From this knowledge she has reimagined the water carriers of old to make objects of art and desire. As a child, West was schooled in the ways of making by her elders, and she has been creating now for nearly 40 years. West’s art celebrates the materiality of her homeland and references her ancestory through her work with kelp. She began her artistic career with a bridging course at Riawunna Centre for Aboriginal Education in Launceston in the 1990s and…

Starting with the beautiful bones of a 1960s home, Beatrix Rowe Interior Design’s (BRID) construct is very much in keeping with the tenets of modernist design – light filled, calm, without clutter, where materiality is celebrated and art is very particular to the occupants. As Rowe says: “The house had a beautiful sense of scale to it, in that ’60s Palm Springs kind of way. The architecture was pretty simple and that drove our thought process.” Structurally, the shape of the home has been minimally altered to include the addition of two pods via architect Taylor Reynolds. Conversely, every aspect of the interior has been replanned and redesigned with internal apertures made larger. “The inside didn’t speak to the outside, so we stripped it back to its structure and replanned…

IDEA 2017 Residential Decoration winning practice Arent&Pyke has long championed the position that a project’s interior and exterior design must have a shared calibre of design integrity. “Comfort and quality are essential to the outdoor space, from tiling or paving to outdoor kitchens, furniture and accessories, everything needs to be as resolved as the interior,” say Arent&Pyke directors, Juliette Arent and Sarah-Jane Pyke. How we use our outdoor spaces has also changed. Where once dinner parties were inside and barbecues were outside, today homes are generally more open and fluid with guests moving between these two spaces. Cohesion of design is also important, as Arent&Pyke suggest: “The transition from indoor to outdoor needs to flow and complement both palette and style.” Effectively, the outdoor space is now recognised as an…

Nightingale 1 D– Breathe Architecture P – Peter Clarke, Eve Wilson, Shannon McGrath C– Residential Multi Designed with a priority towards social, economic and environmental sustainability, Nightingale 1 encourages behavioural and lifestyle change in its occupants with hope to inspire others to do the same. Exceptional in its sustainability outcomes, Nightingale 1 utilises passive principles to achieve an average 8.2 stars. The underlying strategy was to build more with less, adopting an honest material palette and emphasising reduction. The result is a carbon neutral operating platform requiring no gas. Breathe Architecture was responsible for designing all elements of the building, including the electrical reticulation, the owners’ corporation rules, the embedded network and metering systems and the metering and sharing of solar so that every Nightingale resident receives 100 percent green…