Table of contents for No. 120 in (inside) interior design review

The passage of time is one of the only certainties in life. We can’t slow it down. We can’t stand in the way of its ceaseless march. All we can do is observe its passage, noting the minute or glaring changes that time brings, all the while holding on to the lessons of the past and looking ahead to an unknown future. In putting together the IDEA winners’ edition of inside, I began reflecting on how rapidly time passes, and how rapidly technology has evolved over the past year. I was not alone in this nagging sense that it would be nice, if only for a moment, to hit pause. Virtually every designer I’ve interviewed over the past few months has told me how busy they are. How complex and…

Design and Building on Country: First Knowledges for Younger Readers What do you need to know to prosper as a people for 65,000 years or more? Designer and artist Alison Page and anthropologist and architect Paul Memmott share some of the incredible inventions created by the oldest continuing culture in the world – from boomerangs to buildings, fire carriers to fashion. With stories illustrated in striking colour by Archibald Prize-winning artist Blak Douglas, Design and Building on Country: First Knowledges for Younger Readers explores how First Nations people designed their systems and objects throughout history. It examines how their design decisions, stemming from an intimate relationship with nature, could be a blueprint for the future. Page and Memmott have translated their original text Design and Building on Country: First Knowledges…

The art of photographing interiors is not to be underestimated. After designers and architects transform projects from renders to reality, skilled photographers capture them at their most appealing, a craft that requires an interplay of creativity and objectivity. Lillie Thompson masterfully photographs residential, commercial, retail and hospitality interiors and architecture. Her work has caught the attention of Brahman Perera, The Stella Collective, Tali Roth and Simone Haag, who she now counts among her talented clients. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHIC STYLE? LT: My photographic approach stems from a deep appreciation for light and how it makes us feel. Aesthetically my images are typically calm, nuanced and have a warmth to them. WHAT DRAWS YOU TO PHOTOGRAPHING ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIORS? LT: I’m drawn to capturing how spaces make us feel…

Lachlan Mackay lives and breathes design. This is evident from the moment you meet him — provided he’s wearing short sleeves. On his forearm, among a number of other quirky and cute tattoos, is a black ink line drawing of a chair with a heart cut out of the backrest. Mackay really does wear his heart — and his craft — on his sleeve. While it might be tempting to say that his passion and energy stem from youthful innocence, the truth is quite the opposite. As we know, the design industry requires decades of dedication, sleepless nights, and blood, sweat and tears to truly make an indelible mark. Industrial design, and more specifically the artisanal drive to design and make with his hands, is part of Mackay’s DNA. “I’ve…

ORIGIN STORY I have always loved making and understanding how things are made. Cranes from Meccano, cars from K’NEX and spaceships from Capsela are a few notable early run-ins. Decades later, I was lucky enough to study with and work for some exceptional architects and designers who allowed me to hone my skills and eventually found Studio Shand, a multidisciplinary architecture, object and art office. ARCHITECTURAL AESTHETIC Bold shapes, simple spaces and a warm palette. ARTISTIC INSPIRATIONS Varied! The products of Dieter Rams, structures of Matti Suuronen, joinery of Paul Kafka, combined with the functionalism of Arne Jacobsen and abstraction of John Coburn, to name a few. SECRET TO STAYING CREATIVE Physical making. Whenever our studio is feeling weighed down with a particular project – particularly on the administration side…

PRACTICE DR NATALIE WRIGHT IDEA’s Gold Medal is awarded to individuals within the design community who, in the hearts and minds of their peers, have made a positive impact and left an indelible mark. When it comes to advocating for the importance of design as a practice and shaping the minds of Australia’s designers, Dr Natalie Wright is the person who instantly comes to mind. Wright’s career as a pioneering educator stands as a testament to her unwavering commitment to the design profession and the role of educators — without whom no designer would ever become who they are today. Wright’s journey began in Brisbane. With a mother who was a teacher and a father who was in construction and property development, she was immersed in creativity and the built…

PROJECT MURRAN – FIRST NATIONS BUSINESS, RETAIL AND ARTS HUBPRACTICE DAWN ARCHITECTURE Murran is a First Nations business, retail and arts hub located on Wadawurrung Country in Geelong, Victoria. Led by not-for-profit organisation Ngarrimili, Murran includes a retail store, art gallery, café, coworking areas, and meeting and conference rooms, providing the First Nations and wider community with business opportunities, culture and learning. Murran has been carefully designed to offer the best flexibility for the range of activities to be hosted in the space. The material palette is neutral and quite restrained, seamlessly incorporating Indigenous design to offer the perfect backdrop for this important community space for First Nations people.”MANUELA MILLAN…

PROJECT ART GALLERY OF NSW LIBRARY AND MEMBERS LOUNGEPRACTICE TONKIN ZULAIKHA GREER The refurbishment of the Art Gallery of NSW introduces a library, children's library and art archive, and a new members’ lounge while expanding the foyer to the Domain Theatre. The design prioritised the reuse of existing facade elements and foyer coffers. The project sought to maximise local labour and materials, with furniture designed by Tom Fereday and manufactured locally.…

PROJECT RIVIÈREPRACTICE BATES SMART Rivière adds a striking presence to Brisbane’s Kangaroo Point cliffs. The 127-apartment complex is refined and elegant with resort-like amenities, designed to maximise spatial efficiency, natural light and panoramic city and river views. Emphasising subtropical architecture and sustainability, Rivière blends urban living with serene retreat, offering a unique and elegant residential experience.…

PROJECT PERRI CUTTEN MOSMANPRACTICE BRAHMAN PERERA Perri Cutten’s Mosman store is Brahman Perera’s latest design story for the label’s long history of fostering Australian design talent. Set along the verdant streets of Sydney’s Northern Beaches, the project recontextualises its setting within the urban and natural environment to create a contemporary dialogue. “A contemporary reinterpretation of a historic brand, brought to life through the considered tonal pairing of colour, contrast in materiality and intentional lighting design.” DAVINA BESTER…

PROJECT MONASH UNIVERSITY PHARMACY PAVILIONPRACTICE SPLINTER SOCIETY ARCHITECTURE WITH MALA LANDSCAPE The sculptural, floating canopy and First Nations medicinal garden redefine the public face of Monash University's prestigious Pharmacy faculty, balancing approachability with a professional aesthetic. Designed to foster engagement and provide respite from laboratory settings, it features open-wall educational spaces for both university and public interactions.…

HELENA MORGAN Helena Morgan is a Melbourne-based journalist originally from the far north coast of New South Wales. She is the assistant editor of Facility Management and her work has been published in Australian Design Review, Scenestr, The Age, Beat Magazine, Backbeat Podcast, Stew and University of Melbourne student publications The Junction, The Chariot, The Citizen and Farrago. TIM MCDONALD Tim is a Melbourne-based writer originally from San Francisco. He is a regular contributor to Australian Design Review and has written for The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and Australian Financial Review. SOPHIE BERRILL Sophie Berrill is the assistant editor of inside magazine and Australian Design Review. Her work has also appeared on Time Out, JOY FM, Triple R and across Hyperlocal News titles. BILLY KLEIN Billy Klein is a…

DESIGNER BRENDAN WONG, BRENDAN WONG DESIGNPRODUCT LAGUNA TAVOLO BY MATTEO THUN & PARTNERS “This versatile lamp features a soft brass cylinder with blown milk glass to create an elegant geometric form. In our Point Piper Tranquility project, it sits among Kathryn Ryan’s ‘A Quiet Place’ – a tangerine vase and custom marquetry cabinet in a punchy vignette. In the evening, the lamp provides ambient light to ‘glow up’ these surrounding objects.” PORTRAIT TOBY BURROWS PHOTO OF POINT PIPER TRANQUILITY FELIX FOREST DESIGNER KYMBERLEY GIM, HECKER GUTHRIEPRODUCT PURE BENCH IN VULCANO CEDARWOOD BY MATTEO THUN FOR RIVA 1920 “Crafted from a single block of aromatic cedar, this bench features a striking wood grain that appears to float on legs made from the same wood. We incorporated it into the fitout of…

Louise Liu turns to a childhood memory of walking listlessly through streets in Beijing to illustrate the long journey of a dream. “If you’d told my five-year-old self – walking home through grey streets in Beijing – that this would happen to me, I’d have thought you were bonkers!” Liu says. Liu is optimistic and forceful with an intact sense of self-faith – a fierce proponent for believing in the passion of humanity. “My working experiences have taught me the value of people – it’s quite remarkable that as designers we play a role in crafting experiences for people,” she says. Care for people and the planet occupy the core of Liu’s methodology – she is honoured to play a part in designing spaces that are extensions of people’s life…

With the right tools, craftspeople and context, a cabinet can be a conversation starter. A Heritage Reclaimed is one example, representing multiple timelines and perspectives, and offering political commentary through its form and aspect. It examines Australia’s attempts to erase its First Nations heritage, as well as the pursuit of First Peoples to recover it, questioning how far we have come from our colonial history. This vision was achieved through a collaboration between industrial designer Maryam Moghadam and Ngarrindjeri and Wirangu artist Keedan Rigney, both based in Melbourne. The pair made their cabinet as part of the 2024 Melbourne Design Week exhibition Overlay, where 15 architects, interior designers and object designers were tasked with reimagining heritage aesthetics to better reflect our contemporary climate and context. According to the exhibition’s presenters,…

‘A museum where you can bank’ was the brief given to Melbourne-based practice Foolscap Studio tasked with reviving ANZ’s historic Gothic Bank. The newly restored space, which reopened in May, showcases ANZ’s museum collection of artefacts charting the history of the building and the bank, while ushering in a new era of digital banking. The site’s renaissance is a delicate juxtaposition of museum-meets-digital-world, gracefully executed by Foolscap as a new civic asset for the city of Melbourne. Foolscap director Adele Winteridge and associate Cassie Collins worked closely with ANZ and Heritage Victoria, leading a team of specialist heritage trades, historians, archivists, curators and exhibition designers to restore the entire ground floor at 38 Collins St to its resplendent glory. Much like its elaborately carved sandstone architecture, the Gothic Bank is…

JURY CHAIR CLARE COUSINS DIRECTOR, CLARE COUSINS ARCHITECTS Clare Cousins established her Melbourne practice, Clare Cousins Architects, in 2005. The studio is engaged in projects both large and small, including housing, workplace and cultural projects. These efforts include delivering much-needed housing typologies across Melbourne and regional Victoria. Actively involved in the broader design community, Cousins' design practice and ethos are grounded in delivering delight through the lens of human-centred values and social responsibility. BROOKE LLOYD DIRECTOR, COX Sydney-based Brooke Lloyd sits at the forefront of design. As a director at Cox, one of Australia’s leading interior design specialists, she brings a diverse skill set to bear in every project. With extensive experience across multiple design typologies, including hospitality, residential, cultural and workplace, Lloyd possesses a unique ability to balance the…

PRACTICE BATES SMART Bates Smart is a city-making design practice that combines architecture, interior design and urban design to create places and spaces that improve people's lives. Its ambition is to transform future cities by leveraging the best qualities of municipal spaces, driven by a strong commitment to quality and permanence. Bates Smart consistently delivers exceptional design outcomes across various sectors, exemplifying the pinnacle of Australian design excellence.”DAVINA BESTER…

PROJECT ARCHITECTURE WITH PRIDEPRACTICE AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS, AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS, ARCHITECTUS, BATES SMART, BESPOKE CAREERS, BILLARD LEECE PARTNERSHIP, BVN, CARTER WILLIAMSON, COX, DULUX, GOVERNMENT ARCHITECT NEW SOUTH WALES, GEYER, GRIMSHAW, DKO, EMAGN, MHNDU, HASSELL, SJB, TURNER, WOODS BAGOT Architecture With Pride (AWP) unites the LGBTQIA+ design community in the built environment, providing a program that amplifies queer voices and provides space for social and professional connection. Delivered in Sydney and Melbourne, AWP offers an immersive program of curated events, including queer panel discussions, conversations and involvement in Pride events.…

PROJECT TERRACE HOUSE MIRAGEPRACTICE ALCAMI ARCHITECTURE WITH CLAIRE DELMAR This house is a mirage among Chippendale’s Victorian terraces, blending indoor and outdoor living. Its design adapts this terrace to the Australian outdoor way of living and offers replicable solutions for other terrace houses. This conceptual architectural statement questions the boundaries of space and introduces fantasy to everyday life. "The Terrace House Mirage project transformed a 60-square-metre terrace house into an ‘outdoor area’ with a central courtyard extending the living space. This project maximises the space by creating an illusion using different materials.” MELISSA BRIGHT…

PROJECT RED CREST HOUSE PRACTICE SIMONE HAAG Red Crest House embraces the nostalgia of mid-century modern architecture with the surrounding Monbulk landscape and the natural beauty of the Dandenong Ranges. Emphasising an Australian vernacular, the design celebrates the land through carefully chosen colours, textures and forms. “Red Crest House by Simone Haag reflects a deep connection to the Australian vernacular, blending mid-century modern design with contemporary elements that honour the surrounding landscape. The curated selection of furniture and objects seamlessly integrates with the architecture, creating a cohesive and inviting interior. Each piece is thoughtfully chosen to enhance the sense of place, embodying a timeless yet functional aesthetic. The result is a home where the boundaries between the curated interior and the natural environment feel fluid and harmonious.” GRAHAM CHARBONNEAU…

PROJECT ANTARA 128PRACTICE KERSTIN THOMPSON ARCHITECTS Antara, meaning ‘between’, draws design inspiration from its name — between places, between spaces, between dawn and dusk, east and west, and bakery and restaurant. The atmosphere is reminiscent of a European brasserie, where patrons can drop in at any time of day, but ‘done in a Melbourne way’. Dough lies at the core of the bakery and restaurant's operations, with the layout showcasing the pastry-making process and incorporating strong environmentally sustainable design.…

PROJECT MICHAEL KIRBY BUILDINGPRACTICE HASSELL Hassell's design for the Michael Kirby Building at Macquarie University in Sydney renews a former 1985 concrete administration centre into a unique, open timber structure. The revitalised building encourages interaction, tells a story of adaptation and growth and repositions a prominent corner site of the university’s Wallumattagal campus. “Upcycling the structure of a former admin building, The Michael Kirby Building prioritises a low-carbon timber structure and materiality. Centred around the light-filled atrium, the crafted interior fosters connection, collaboration and a sense of wellbeing.” CLARE COUSINS…

PROJECT 48 ROUNDPRACTICE ZETR 48 is a subtle electrical solution for architectural projects. According to ZETR, it is the first and smallest range of flush, round outlets and switch grids on the Australian market, complemented by matching button covers and metal finish faceplates. 48 allows designers to configure solutions by tessellating each unit, creating electrical the way they want. “48 Round’s ultra-minimal lines are clearly the result of impressive research and development. ZETR has succeeded in elevating what can be a predictable item of electrical hardware into something of refined beauty and functionality.” MICHAEL ALVISSE…

The purpose of heritage restoration and conservation is subject to ongoing evolution. Victorian-era art historian John Ruskin equated restoring buildings with deceit – to rebuild was to betray the original intention of the building and produce a “false description of the thing being destroyed”. Gothic Revival architect George Gilbert Scott adopted a slightly less fatalistic attitude, arguing restoration necessitated meticulous research and planning, yet should only be allocated to buildings crying out for “needful reparation”. Restoration architecture walks a wobbly tightrope: how does a project protect the memory of the space while safeguarding a future? Whether a vast interdisciplinary team of architects, heritage consultants, building surveyors and carpenters is restoring a boatshed or Her Majesty’s Theatre in Ballarat, discovery and serendipity are on the cards, alongside compromise – however frustrating…

PROJECT THE EMBASSY OF AUSTRALIA, WASHINGTON DCPRACTICE BATES SMART WITH KCCT The Australian Embassy in Washington DC harmonises cultural representation with urban prominence and security considerations in supporting diverse government functions. The embassy’s interior echoes the vast Australian landscape, creating a welcoming, recognisable and enduring diplomatic presence in Washington DC. The Embassy of Australia’s interiors embody the spirit and qualities of our country and its diverse culture, establishing a welcoming, distinctive and enduring diplomatic presence in the heart of Washington DC The sophisticated use of Australian timber throughout creates an interior that exudes warmth and tactility. This exemplar public interior is testament to Bates Smart's long history delivering projects of excellence across many disciplines.“CLARE COUSINS…

PROJECT WILAM NGARRANG RETROFITPRACTICE KENNEDY NOLAN WITH FINDING INFINITY Wilam Ngarrang is a minimal-intervention retrofit of a 1970s apartment block in Fitzroy, focused on improving thermal performance, extending the building’s lifespan and increasing amenity for its tenants. The spaces are warm, welcoming and beautiful, in a modest way. “Wilam Ngarrang takes a radically pragmatic approach to the multi-residential genre and creates something entirely original, sustainable and affordable. It is a visionary project that not only creates an exemplary piece of interior design but also highlights a financially viable model for sustainable retrofits. An incredibly clever project that proves good design is not contingent on big budgets.” BROOKE LLOYD…

PROJECT AESOP AUSTRALIAN HEADQUARTERSPRACTICE CARR Restrained and graceful, Aesop’s new Australian headquarters and nearby laboratory appear effortless in their purpose and personality. Yet, the journey to achieving this built outcome in Collingwood, Melbourne, was one of meticulous detail and strategy. “Understated and refined, the new Aesop Australian headquarters reflects its brand identity. The level of execution is a testament of Carr’s approach to design – minimalistic yet rich in its own way.” MELISSA BRIGHT…