Table of contents for No. 99 (Nov-Feb) - IDEA Winners in (inside) interior design review

And so we come to the last inside for 2017 and what a bumper issue it is with a record 180 pages. There was so much to show and discuss that we have extended this magazine to incorporate all our usual features and, most importantly, announce the winners and highly commended projects, products and practices in IDEA 2017. With an outstanding array of entries in this year’s IDEA (Interior Design Excellence Awards), judging was challenging; however, we have our winners and present them here for your pleasure (p107). As you will see the calibre of projects is exceptional with innovation and decoration combining for perfect resolution in all aspects. To everyone who participated in IDEA this year we thank you and to our winners we congratulate you in the knowledge…

Recently on a US talk show Salman Rushdie was asked if the current administration had had a negative impact on his day-to-day life. He replied, “I feel now about my writing a little differently, because you have got so much fiction, so much fantasy, so much distortion and untruth propagated every day that I think, ‘Maybe not magic realism.’ Maybe it becomes the writer’s job, paradoxically, the fiction writer’s job, to try to re-establish the sense of the truth.”1 Like Rushdie, Anthony Dunne and Fiona Raby’s design practice exists within their own kind of magical realism. Rather than being positioned in historical fiction as Rushdie is, theirs is in a supernatural, future fiction. Crafting imaginary, aesthetically seductive, one-off consumer electronic, product and spatial design propositions, they provoke and question the…

ON THE LAST 20 YEARS One of the things I always say to our people, and people in general, including my two kids, is ‘if you do something you love, you’ll never feel that the day drags on’. Every day I come to this business just like I did 20 years ago – so passionate about what we do and what we’re trying to do. Twenty years ago we moved into the Sydney showroom. When we first started it was one building with two floors. As we’ve grown our collection over the years, we’ve always been very conscious of the fact that we can’t keep taking space from the people that have helped us create our business. So we’re always looking at how can we extend instead. We’ve gone from…

The overwhelmingly popular design element of kitchen countertop islands is a feature of the rise in casual entertaining. Concurrently, the dining room is now a focal point of residential or commercial interiors with designers producing sophisticated, contemporary dining tables and chairs, using high-quality materials. People can sit, languish over a meal, share memories and commune. As such, the selection of dining tables and chairs has never before been so diverse or experimental. Rosie Schloeffel, marketing and communications at CULT, has witnessed an increase in the concept of mixing and matching. “People are gravitating towards less polished interiors, opting to combine different chairs,” she says. “Clients like to play with our Danish brands, either selecting the one chair in a range of finishes or a few different types of chairs with…

With burnt orange leather as a standard upholstery, the Martelle barstool is not just the quintessential mid-century Australian barstool, but is also entirely authentic. Perfect for residential, hospitality and commercial spaces, the Martelle barstool is an unequivocal celebration of 70s design. Indeed, from the 1950s Workspace produced much of the most sought after mid-century furniture in Australia. The most famous designs were the iconic range of Danish and Martelle barstools produced from the mid 1950s through to the 1970s. The Martelle immediately shot to fame and it is a testament to great Australian design to see this much loved classic revisited. Designed by TH Brown, the name under which Workspace originally traded from 1911, the Martelle barstool is part of the Origin Collection of designs. Celebrating some of the most…

Rob Backhouse The IDEA Gold medal recipient for 2017 is a man who has made an indelible footprint on the Australian design scene throughout his career. As a designer he has contributed to projects that have been recognised worldwide and, as managing director of HASSELL, one of the country’s most successful design practices, he has led the business to further accomplishment and fortune. The man himself is unassuming, pragmatic and charming, and there is a steely determination that drives him to achieve and perform. He is honourable and generous, and a true professional whose personality shines on the landscape of Australian design and architecture. Backhouse was born in Melbourne, but grew up on Queensland’s Gold Coast, graduating from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) with a Bachelor of Built Environment…

Wynyard Walk D – Woods Bagot P – Trevor Mein “In the heart of Sydney’s CBD, Wynyard Walk transport interchange is rich in architectural expression and a unified identity, inspired by the natural geology of the city. With a projected 100-year lifespan, the pedestrian link clearly displays an emphasis on optimising energy efficiency and sustainability outcomes. Coupled with the quality of the user experience – up to 20,000 commuters per hour – this defines this entry as a category winner.” – Jan O’Connor, IDEA 2017 Jury “This extraordinary piece of architecture is an exemplar of sustainability as we are coming to know it – social, environmental and sustainable, but also sculptural, engaging and aesthetically delivering a magnificent statement of place.” – Jan Henderson and Gillian Serisier, co-editors inside A high-traffic…

Settlers chair D – Jon Goulder P – Grant Hancock “Settlers chair is a fine example of craftsmanship and expertise. The designer has managed to develop the leather technique into a production piece with superb quality and elegance.” – Alexander Lotersztain, IDEA 2017 Jury “Beautifully resolved with whimsy, character and elegant stature, Jon Goulder’s Settlers chair is a tour de force of Australian innovation.” – Jan Henderson and Gillian Serisier, co-editors inside Part of the NGV collection, the Settlers chair embodies an investigation into material manipulation whereby a unique production process that requires no internal fibreglass frame was developed. Rather, large pieces of leather enclose structural wooden components prior to vacuum pressing in layers to achieve the large forms. The Settlers chair is the result of material experimentation and how…

Wynyard Walk D – Woods Bagot P – Trevor Mein “Refreshing to see a visionary public space of this quality and innovation; it’s an inspiration and benchmark for future projects in the realm!” – Alexander Lotersztain, IDEA 2017 Jury Architecturally sublime, the experience of Wynyard Walk is an extraordinary achievement in creating a public space that enriches our daily lives.” – Jan Henderson and Gillian Serisier, co-editors inside A fully accessible pedestrian link designed around the concept of flow, the design challenges the perception of a transport interchange by shifting emphasis from travel efficiency to quality of the commuter experience. The linearity of movement is reinforced through materials and detailing to create a unified commuter experience. Linking Wynyard Station to the western corridor of Sydney’s CBD, Wynyard Walk includes a…

Woods Bagot Perth studio D – Woods Bagot Perth P – Dion Robeson “The bright interior juxtaposes deftly with the historic façade and fabrics of the Palace Hotel, offering the international practice a flexible and wonderful workplace setting that is designed for growth. The studio environment is of evidence here, and the furniture and artwork choices are restrained and controlled, yet exude a relax and sophisticated feel.” – Albert Mo, IDEA 2017 Jury “There is a clarity to this workplace interior that is absolutely breathtaking. Beautiful, astoundingly simple and generously detailed, there are moments of calm and moments of ‘wow’. Just extraordinary!” – Jan Henderson and Gillian Serisier, co-editors inside Transforming the iconic Palace Hotel into the new Perth studio has resulted in a highly flexible agile work environment that…

Amber Road It is with great delight that we award this year’s Editors’ Medal to a practice of consummate style and considerable grace. Contributing significantly to the design language of Australia, the work of Amber Road over the last year has been exceptional. Sisters Katy Svalbe and Yasmine Ghoniem bring landscaping and interior design together as a unifying force within their projects and it is this reconciled collaboration that defines their unique style. Spanning residential, commercial and hospitality, the projects shortlisted for IDEA 2017 included the remarkable Inside Out house, Trackmaster, Tamate Bako | Edition Roasters and The Finery. Each of these projects is exceptional; however, it is the overall aesthetic and attention to detail that has most impressed us. A lot is said about forecasting and fashion in our…

1– Dianna Snape With a passion for the built environment, Dianna Snape has been documenting Melbourne’s urban landscape for over 15 years through her exemplar photographic practice. She works closely with architects, interior designers, landscape architects and property developers to establish a visual dialogue that records and promotes their buildings, interiors and vision. 2– Kylie Hood As a university graduate, Kylie Hood began her career working in Santorini, Greece where she developed her photographer’s instinct and developed a yearning to capture the island’s picturesque surroundings. After two years she arrived home, established her own studio in Brisbane and has been working in the architectural sector ever since. Clients include Mirvac, Wrightson Stewart and Multi Span Australia, and of late she has been working in China and Macau documenting hospitality projects…

Richard King Design was engaged to design a remodel of a house situated in Kingsville. The project, a dilapidated Federation worker’s cottage with a 1990s lean-to, was extensively demolished and extended into a two-level contemporary house that grew the spatial footprint from 85 square metres to 185 square metres. The remodel was accomplished within a two-year time-frame from concept to completion. To reference the building’s original architectural character, the principal of the practice, Richard King, extended the existing gable end roofline through to the rear, and the generous roof height and proportions were utilised to include a mezzanine level. The house has a mix of private, social and workspaces, with the front portion of the house retained as bedroom and adult living space. A central spine corridor connects the older…

inside: CHT Interiors is very involved with designing aged care and seniors living accommodation. What changes have you seen over the last few years? Joshua McAlister: The language around seniors living has changed in the last 10 years in this sector. For example, it is no longer discussed in terms of high or low care. Today, residential aged care facilities (RACF) cater for residents with high care needs, while retirement living or independent living apartments (ILAs) default as the low care option. A common thread for all levels of ageing has also been a shift away from institutional models of care (traditionally based on a nursing hierarchy) to a more person-centred care set in a home environment. We have also witnessed cross-pollination between our experience in multi-residential accommodation and aged…

Zenith Interiors Lapalma – celebrating a new partnership Lapalma was founded 30 years ago by the Marcato brothers in Padua in northern Italy. Since its inception, the company has shown an inexhaustible enthusiasm, expertly combining metal with wood, leather and fabrics to create contemporary furniture. Lapalma designs have a timeless appeal both in design and quality, suited to the modern light office. Today, Zenith welcomes Lapalma into its product portfolio. zenithinteriors.com Artedomus Le Corbusier LCS Ceramics range Le Corbusier, an artist and architect, engineered a framework for design and architecture that earned him the moniker of ‘father of modern architecture’. For Le Corbusier, the chromatic aspects of buildings and design objects were as important as their layout and shape. Fascinated by the balanced colours of nature, Le Corbusier created the…

IDEA 2017 was an inspirational year with more than 430 entries received and a hefty 230 shortlisted. The calibre of the projects and objects presented was outstanding and this year the design bar was swiftly raised to great heights. Each year the entries excite and astound; however, this year the submissions were in a league of their own. To say that our illustrious jury was set a challenging task to decide the eventual winners is an understatement. On 17 August, however, our group of experts met for a day of judging in Sydney and did so with aplomb. The jury this year comprised Rosina Di Maria (principal, Woods Bagot), Alexander Lotersztain (founder, Derlot), Albert Mo (director, Architects EAT), Jan O’Connor (managing partner, Environa Studio), William Smart (founder and creative director,…

107 Cambridge D – Elenberg Fraser P – Tom Blachford “The details and palette deployed in this project demonstrate a masterful understanding of building economy in this typology. Even through the rigour of cost management, the interior design is robust enough to deliver a consistent level of innovation and sophistication across each individual apartment.” – Albert Mo, IDEA 2017 Jury “Raising the bar for multi-residential projects, 107 Cambridge takes a sensitive and glamorous approach that, while multi, finesses the unique nature of each apartment.” – Jan Henderson and Gillian Serisier, co-editors inside On one of the last sites within Collingwood’s Foy & Gibson Heritage precinct, the design delivers 90 New York loft-style apartments, in which can be discerned the area’s origins. Blending industrial heritage with contemporary comfort, these are cosmopolitan…

Baker extension table D – DesignByThem P – Pete Daly Featuring a strong robust form softened by smooth edges and rolling pin legs, the table is designed to be wholesome and versatile. Welcoming and adaptable to different spaces, the purposes it serves and the people that surround it, this extension table is ideal for intimate gatherings and large celebrations alike. Brightgreen surface-mounted wall light collection D – Brightgreen P – Brightgreen Featuring Tru-Colour light quality, the collection allows designers to play with the balance of shadows and light. Acting as sculptural feature pieces during the day and washing surfaces with ambient illumination at night, the wall lights can be grouped to create an artistic array, or installed in a simple succession for a minimalist, modern look.…

Murdoch University Peel Campus activation D – CODA Studio P – Bo Wong “This project packs a mighty punch with a delicate fistful of tricks: masterful use of colour and small but judicious insertions create an imaginative, playful and joyous interior experience.” – Hannah Tribe, IDEA 2017 Jury “Spatially and emotionally transformed through the pairing of serious and insouciant colour, art and a complete rethinking of flow and use, CODA’s interior for this once neglected space is outstanding.” – Jan Henderson and Gillian Serisier, co-editors inside Revitalising a series of underutilised rooms and nondescript transit spaces, within a small secondary campus in regional Western Australia, this project was a way of creating a stronger campus identity and offering more to the student experience. Colour has been used as a visual…

12,000 Francs (Hong Kong) D – Emma Maxwell Design P – Edmond Leong “An evocative Napoleonic period narrative is mixed with contemporary context at this modern French restaurant surrounded by the bright lights of a bustling Hong Kong street. Once inside you are immersed in a soft amber light and the theatre begins. Decorative elements of an ancient chateau blend with rich, dark saturated colour and seductive textiles. An iconic bee motif, synonymous with Emperor Bonaparte’s reign, is masterfully woven throughout the space in various forms.” – Jan O’Connor, IDEA 2017 Jury “Theatrical, sumptuous and elegantly realised, 12,000 Francs sets the tone for excellence in Australian design on the international stage.” – Jan Henderson and Gillian Serisier, co-editors inside Sweeping guests from the chaotic neon of Hong Kong, 12,000 Francs…

As a designer of note, Carole Whiting knows about interiors. Her lightness of touch and keen eye have transformed many a project from the predictable to the beautiful as each commission becomes a testament to her style and experience. This year marks something of a milestone for the designer, with Carole Whiting Interiors and Design celebrating its first anniversary, the completion of exciting commissions and a lifestyle change. Within this year of practice, Whiting has achieved much and, with two staff, a new home and premises, the future looks bright. Whiting’s story is not typical, but shows that talent shines through. She studied at Swinburne University, achieving a masters in digital and media design and, became involved with the world of advertising, travelling the world with a production company that…

inside: How long have you lived here and what drew you to the property? Vanessa Bird: We moved into the first floor of the building 17 years ago and extended up through the roof a couple of years later. We took over the ground floor eight years ago, when the office outgrew the space, so it’s been an incremental takeover. We had a checklist of priorities when house hunting and this property satisfied them all, including being in the exact location. The building was in poor condition internally after suffering multiple expedient commercial fitouts, but was incredibly structurally robust. On auction day there was a large crowd, but no one else bid. We were lucky. When did you produce this design? The building was a biscuit factory built in 1929.…

As a premium supplier of commercial and contract furniture, Interstudio has forged a place in the hearts of Australian designers and architects through its quality product collections and outstanding service. Since 2012, when the company was relaunched under the current management, the range of furniture products has grown exponentially to incorporate the very best brands from Scandinavia and Australia. Each collection has been carefully curated as a stand-alone offering, but also as a complementary addition to the whole. The collections on offer are testament to the company’s core values of design excellence and sustainability, with each brand and range chosen for authenticity, longevity, beauty and comfort. One such company that encapsulates the ideas and ideals of fine design is Skagerak. Founded in 1976, the furniture manufacturer is located in Aalborg,…

Jackalope Hotel D – Carr P – Sharyn Cairns “A magical Spiegeltent and Pandora’s box are the first words that come to mind in describing the Jackalope Hotel. It is a world away from the world; guests are entertained in the utmost opulent and cosmopolitan sense, infused with arts and rich imagination. The experiential and storytelling interiors are expertly executed, a true business of entertaining is created in an otherwise rural setting.” – Albert Mo, 2017 IDEA Jury Celebrating the hotel’s origins, the bar is housed within the original 18th century Federation cottage, its architecture having been meticulously and sensitively restored. However, in a marked departure from the conservatism of the Heritage listed building and in a nod to experimentation and flamboyance, the lounge interiors are dominated by test tube-like…

Biasol “It is with absolute delight that we announce Biasol as the recipient of IDEA 2017 Emerging Designer. Each year we have seen this young practice step up with an increasingly sophisticated design approach realised as incredible interiors and we look forward to seeing this fine practice flourish.” – Jan Henderson and Gillian Serisier, co-editors inside Impressing the jury with a great diversity of projects across several categories, Biasol is truly making its mark on the Australian design industry. From the sumptuous and beautiful colourscape of Clerkenwell Grind in the International category to the crisp elegance of Gwynn Street Studio in Commercial Under 1000sqm and the quirky joy of No. 19 in Hospitality, Biasol has excelled. Tactility and surface variation plays a key role in its oeuvre, with large expanses…

Viktoria + Woods D – Fiona Lynch P – Sean Fennessy “A space carefully designed to offer repose to the customer and return joy to the experience of retail through subtle textures, soft lighting and clever detailing. It is a calming envelope that focuses the product as the hero and considers the customer in every moment.” – Rosina Di Maria, 2017 IDEA Jury “An uncompromised elegance of simplicity, form and nuanced tonal shifts, coupled with a perfection of detailed delivery make this retail interior truly exceptional.” – Jan Henderson and Gillian Serisier, co-editors inside Sensitively responding to the Victorian Heritage site, the design is approached architecturally, whereby strong forms are balanced with softer, more tactile elements and a material palette that is restrained, textured and natural. The sharp full-height shopfront…

Pyrmont apartment D – Arent&Pyke P – Tom Ferguson “A sublime product of careful curation and delight. The spaces speak with quiet confidence through placement, texture, play of light and subtle tonal shifts. Residential decoration is reflected as an artful expertise here, where the voice of the client is clear and the success of beauty and personality is achieved across each space, creating a refreshing approach to decoration.” – Rosina Di Maria, IDEA 2017 Jury “A masterpiece of interior design, Pyrmont apartment balances and reconciles a multitude of design languages as a single resolved aesthetic.” – Jan Henderson and Gillian Serisier, co-editors inside Reconciling this light filled apartment with the clients’ life, the design strategy called for an extraordinary assembly of furniture embodying a lifetime of collecting. Pairing classics with…

Igneous wall light D – Ash Allen and James Walsh P – Reuben Gates “A light of remarkably sustainable origins, the Igneous wall light is a beautiful sculptural object in its own right.” – Jan Henderson and Gillian Serisier, co-editors inside Transforming the waste created when Victorian bluestone is cut to create pavers into a beautiful product, the Igneous wall light brings this ubiquitous local material, traditionally placed outside, within the home. Experimentally conceived from bluestone sludge collected from a quarry in Footscray, the material was first dried, then kiln melted at various temperatures on different substrates. At 1200 degrees Celsius the fine basalt powder melts and, upon cooling, solidifies into a single mass. By adjusting the firing schedule, the final surface colour and texture can be altered, making each…

Maddocks D – Bates Smart P – Peter Clarke “The Maddocks office impeccably balances bold gestures with refinement and restraint. Here, modernist planning principles create clear structure and order, while elegant materials, resolved details and minimal services contribute to a relaxed, timeless atmosphere. We acknowledge that this level of resolution is the result of a rigorous design process. This confident and simple result is the real success of this beautiful workplace.” – William Smart, IDEA 2017 Jury “Superbly detailed and architecturally resolute, Maddocks’ grand atrium is a triumph of scale, light and view.” – Jan Henderson and Gillian Serisier, co-editors inside Impressive and innovative, the dramatic staircase and two-storey wintergarden significantly enhances staff amenity. A highly transparent approach optimises connectivity and encourages collaboration. Views and quality of light are shared,…

Watchmaker D – Folk Architects P – Peter Bennetts “Watchmaker demonstrates a singular, strong conceptual idea that is sympathetic to its surroundings as well as creating a visually intriguing interior. The use of mirrors dissolves the display cases focusing the eye on content with the beauty of a Heritage backdrop.” – Brenton Smith, 2017 IDEA Jury “While celebrating history of place, Folk Architect’s Watchmaker design is a unique reinterpretation that is both architecturally fluid and visually engaging.” – Jan Henderson and Gillian Serisier, co-editors inside Responding to the site’s former use as a ‘watchmaker’ shop, the concept of time as an experience is explored through the curation of a mirrored installation. Applied strategically throughout the space, mirrors reflect the history of the building, dissolving its boundaries and manipulating perceptions while…