About Habitusliving

 

Habitus is a movement for living in design. We’re an intelligent community of original thinkers in constant search of native uniqueness in our region.

 

From our base in Australia, we strive to capture the best edit, curating the stories behind the stories for authentic and expressive living.

 

Habitusliving.com explores the best residential architecture and design in Australia and Asia Pacific.

 

Learn more

Design Products
Furniture

Reimagining Roda for the Australian Summer

The 1990 founded Italian outdoor furniture brand’s reinterpretations are done in mind to suit not only Australian tastes, but to look wonderfully at home under the hot Australian sun. Olive and smoke accents pepper the new editions and bring summer freshness to the Roda Spool and Network collections. Combine this with teak and grey foundations and the result is a set of piece that maintain a sophistication that ensures these pieces will continue looking stylish long after the summer months. Available exclusively in Australia through DOMO, Roda’s outdoor furniture brings together modern weather-resistant materials with classic design and quality craftsmanship. Domo domo.com.au ROOT-045side-table_hpl-topabc
Design Products
Furniture

Solving the puzzle with the Geo Table

Side tables are part of one of the more interesting parts of the interior design puzzle, rarely the focus of the room, yet the wrong choice in selecting one can throw off the entire space. The Geo Table is an unobtrusive balance between a stylish design object, and a complementary piece that won’t distract the attention of the room. Available soon after Catapult’s launch, the Geo Table has served as a foundation member of their Signature Collection since inception. “The geometric legs provide for a point of interest, but being spokes inscribing a shape in space, they aren’t a bold, overwhelming statement,” says Catapult director Aaron Zorzo. “And with tops from a variety of simple, honest, but beautiful materials, they work in a majority of spaces without the need for extensive customisation from the standard.” Two years after its initial release the Geo range is now being expanded with four new variations. After being teased at Sydney In Design, Geo Tables are now available in solid oak tops with a demi bullnose edge, with a stunning shark-nosed marble top, a shark-nosed MDF option, and a statement version in full brass. Each offers a sleek, clean, and durable finish, while their timeless aesthetic ensures a long life complementing your interiors. Catapult Design catapultdesign.net.au Trio1 Metal Geo-1 DSC_8301-new DSC_6461-(copy)-grad-shadow DSC_6455-0  abc
Architecture
Places

Morning After Cafe: The Antithesis of Grunge

  When mother and son team Yianni and Soula Passaris first envisaged what Morning After would feel like they knew they wanted it to stand out from its, typically grungy, West End neighbours. After interviewing a shortlist of designers from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne they engaged local design studio, Derlot, to undertake the task of pulling together the fitout, branding and web presence for their new venture. Yianni says, “We decided to work closely with local designers Derlot as they had a one stop shop. Alexander Lotersztain and I got along really well and he had a clear understanding of where I wanted to go with this project.” He continues, “The benefits of working with one design team across all elements were amazing! It allowed us to control everything and keep the outcome really clean and cohesive.” The most striking thing about the space is this sense of cohesion. Starting from the ground up, the team specified the colour and composition of the base building concrete topping slab, which was polished and incorporates an inlaid brass logo. The brass detailing continues throughout the space in the form of custom newspaper rails, plant canisters, light fittings and slender, floating shelves. MORNINGAFTER_02 The space offers a range of seating options including a bench with power dock for solo workers, a central communal table that can serve both a single, large party or smaller, individual groups, cosy banquette seating, an outdoor area and a high corner bar with fully retractable bi-fold windows, perfect for people watching along the street. Of this particular area Lotersztain says, “the building was still under construction when we were planning the interior, so we were able to change fixed windows and doors to bi-folds in order to open the space to the outdoors, creating a true Queensland experience.” All of the furniture is either sourced from the extensive Derlot Editions range or custom designed to suit the space. Soft curves combine with a finishes palette of mossy greens, solid oak timber, crisp white and brass to create a mood of refined simplicity and warmth, evocative of a fresh meadow. The accessories, including plants and pots, were all selected by the team at Derlot. They also collaborated with the Morning After team and artists from the Jam Factory in Adelaide to develop a range of customised crockery to suit the delicious, nutritionist-approved menu. Morning After Cafe morningafter.com.au MORNINGAFTER-_13 MORNINGAFTER_18 MORNINGAFTER_17 MORNINGAFTER_16 MORNINGAFTER_15 MORNINGAFTER_12 MORNINGAFTER_11 MORNINGAFTER_10 MORNINGAFTER_09 MORNINGAFTER_08 MORNINGAFTER_07 MORNINGAFTER_05 MORNINGAFTER_04 MORNINGAFTER_03 MORNINGAFTER_01abc
Architecture
Places

Elegant Restraint in Seppeltsfield

Seppeltsfield estate in South Australia’s Barossa Valley has undergone a major redevelopment within the past three years. Renovations include the addition of a JamFactory satellite venue, comprising gallery, studios and retail outlet, and have culminated with the recent opening of the historic winery’s revamped cellar door and Fino Seppeltsfield restaurant. While the brief for these two recent works called for the integration of food and wine, the restaurant itself wasn’t part of the initial scheme. Architect Max Pritchard was already planning the cellar door long before Seppeltsfield persuaded the highly respected regional eatery’s owners to come on board. When they did, however, there was no question as to whether both venues would be accommodated under the same roof. SNoonan_MPA_Seppeltsfield_111214_012 “It was a design decision to place them together in the estate’s old bottling hall and have them be very visible to each other,” says Pritchard. “Although people aren’t encouraged to walk between them.” Patrons walk around because a long, low fireplace clad in slate reclaimed from elsewhere on the property acts as a barrier, zoning each area. It’s a discreet, yet effective, intervention that reflects Pritchard’s respectful approach to the building’s adaptive re-use. Unsurprisingly, the hall is heritage listed, but rather than impede the design process, this worked in its favour. As Pritchard explains, “We wanted to get the most out of the structure, so we were actually stripping away things that had been done to the building over the past 100 or so years to try and get it back to its original state.” He certainly had good bones to work with and rightfully made key features of the existing lantern roof, which provides an abundance of natural light, white trusses and a corrugated iron ceiling that lend an instantly appealing industrial aesthetic and strongly textured stone walls. SNoonan_MPA_Seppeltsfield_111214_017 Revealing the original concrete floors further adds to the space’s rich material palette, while also highlighting the site’s history through its patina. The only challenge was in trying to configure the cellar door to accommodate large numbers of visitors at any one time. Pritchard’s solution was to install a series of freestanding circular oak pods – with a generous circulation path between them and the walls – that reduce the congestion standing around a long counter often causes. The minimalist concept is echoed in the restaurant, where the uncluttered fit-out is offered elegant restraint with Thonet chairs and JamFactory-designed dining tables. These key furniture pieces are complimented by the oak joinery, which, along with the reclaimed slate walls at either end of the interior, unifies the overall design. While still in keeping with the scheme’s simplicity, the restaurant’s intimate dining area, in the former vat room, injects visual dynamism. “We weren’t trying to tidy things up; we bashed out openings and left them really raw”, Pritchard says. The effect, along with ambient lighting, is unapologetically rustic and the reveal succeeds in connecting patrons with the site’s heritage. Photography by Sam Noonan Seppeltsfield seppeltsfield.com.au SNoonan_MPA_Seppeltsfield_111214_048 SNoonan_MPA_Seppeltsfield_111214_047 SNoonan_MPA_Seppeltsfield_111214_044 SNoonan_MPA_Seppeltsfield_111214_042 SNoonan_MPA_Seppeltsfield_111214_040 SNoonan_MPA_Seppeltsfield_111214_039 SNoonan_MPA_Seppeltsfield_111214_038 SNoonan_MPA_Seppeltsfield_111214_036 SNoonan_MPA_Seppeltsfield_111214_034 SNoonan_MPA_Seppeltsfield_111214_033 SNoonan_MPA_Seppeltsfield_111214_028 SNoonan_MPA_Seppeltsfield_111214_025 SNoonan_MPA_Seppeltsfield_111214_022 SNoonan_MPA_Seppeltsfield_111214_004 SNoonan_MPA_Seppeltsfield_111214_003 SNoonan_MPA_Seppeltsfield_111214_001abc
Design Products

#MyHabitus : Our Month Of Giveaways!

Thanks to the incredible generosity of several individuals and brands, for the month of November #MyHabitus X #MeanwhileInMelbourne will explore a select handful of Melbourne’s creatives.  At all points, each brand, object, individual or location/initiative is highlighted as an exemplar of ‘Living In Design’, particularly reflective of Melbourne’s unique identity and cultural scene.  

With 14 prizes to be won by our lucky audience, the total prize pool contains:

4 x Habitus Living Magazine subscriptions (year)

Mr Black Espresso Martini bottle

Linea “desktop architecture” design by Jim Hannon-Tan & Made by Pen

Unisex watch by Jack and Bell

Galaxy cushion by ni.ni creative

Saturn table lamp by Ilanel

Brass tray by Lightly

Muuto Corky Carafe by Living Edge

QT Hotel voucher by QT Hotels

Assemblage Vase by La petite fabrique de Brunswick

Marble and terrazzo side table by Redfox & Wilcox

Breakfast and Dinner voucher from Higher Ground

Book: Plant Society ‘Create an Indoor Oasis for Your Urban Space’ by Jason Chongue

How does it work?

 
Duration Of Competition Running for the full period of November, the #MyHabitus X #MeanwhileInMelbourne competition will offer people the chance to win a selection of prizes each week. For the Monday of every week, that week’s prizes are announced and people can begin entering. The competition for that week closes at 12am EST on the Friday morning, and the winner for that week is drawn/announced at 5pm EST that afternoon. November Week 1: “Discerning Taste”(6th - 10th) Prizes: Mr Black Liqueur, Muuto's Corky Carafe, and Higher Grounds breakfast voucher for $60 and a dinner voucher for $100. November Week 2: “Forever Lustre” (13th - 17th) Prizes: Group: Brass tray by Lightly, galaxy cushion by ni.ni creative and Saturn table lamp by Ilanel. November Week 3: “Natural Beauty” ( 20th- 24th) Prizes: Assemblage Vase by La petite Fabrique de Brunswick, book by  Plant Society  and side table by Redfox & Wilcox November Week 4: “New Luxury” (27th - 1st Dec) Prizes: Linea “desktop architecture” design by Jim Hannon-Tan & Made by Pen, unisex watch by Jack + Bell and  a nights’ accommodation at designer hotel QT Melbourne and breakfast for two at the hotel’s signature restaurant, Pascale Bar & Grill

How to enter:

  1. Like the “WIN” picture of any given prize group. These images will be posted across both @HabitusLiving and @MeanwhileinMelbourne Instagram channels. 2. Tag a friend and comment #MyHabitus Should someone be selected as the winner, the friend that they tagged will receive a complimentary year subscription to Habitus Magazine as a thanks for participating. 3. Follow @Habitusliving and @Meanwhileinmelbourne **Winners will be announced via a follow-up post of the prize (different image) and contacted via ‘Instagram Direct Messaging’ by @HabitusLiving. This is to request their preferred delivery address for the prizes. Every winner will receive a 1 year subscription to Habitus Magazine in addition to their other prizes for that week (4 subscriptions in total) **Winners are selected by chance via a random number generator. (One entry per person.) Terms and Conditions apply.

Competition Terms and Conditions of Entry

  TERMS AND CONDITIONS 1. Information on how to enter forms part of the terms of entry. Entry into the competition is deemed acceptance of these terms and conditions. Participants who do not consent to @HabitusLiving’s decisions may withdraw from the competition. 2. The Promotion is a game of chance. Skill plays no part in the determination of a winner. 3. Entry is open to residents of Australia only, and over 18 years of age. However, employees and their immediate families of @HabitusLiving, @MeanwhileinMelbourne or any of the brands donating prizes to the competition, and their associated dealers, retailers, agencies and companies are not eligible to enter. 4. Sweepstake winners will be selected at random by a random information generator. 5. There is a maximum submission of 1 entry per prize. Should a candidate enter more than this all of their submissions will be withdrawn. 6. The competition will be held once for each prize. Winners will be announced the week following the promotion. The winners will be contacted by Habitus Magazine to arrange for distribution of the prizes. The competition will run for the duration of November 2017. 7. To enter, candidates must follow @HabitusLiving and @MeanwhileInMelbourne on Instagram, ‘like’ the “WIN” image of the prize they wish to be in the running for, and tag themselves and a friend in the comment. The friend will be given a 1 year subscription to Habitus as a prize for their proxy participation. 8. Participants are responsible for the resolution of any legal issues arising from their works in the event of changing, editing or doctoring contest imagery and agree to pay any costs thereby incurred. Indesign Media reserves the right to disallow entries that are harmful to the public order, violate standards of decency or are contrary to the goals of the competition. 9. Indesign Media and Meanwhile In Melbourne may elect to suspend or postpone receipt of any or all entries if, in its judgment, the competition cannot be run smoothly for any reason at their discretion. 10. Save where they are due to Indesign Media or Meanwhile in Melbourne’s malice or gross negligence, Indesign Media and Meanwhile In Melbourne do not accept liability for damages or other harm su ered by entrants as a result of their participation in the competition. 11. Entrants agree to fully indemnify Indesign Media and Meanwhile In Melbourne and accept all responsibility for any third-party complaints or claims concerning copyright or other intellectual property rights infringement or damages arising from their reposted entry submitted. 12. There will be a total of 10 winners, submitted by an individual and valid Instagram account. 13. Winning Prizes: Each winner receives the prize depcited in their winning repost. Friends tagged in the post will receive a 1 year subscription to Habitus Magazine. 14. Should the participant win one of the prizes in the competition, Indesign Media will contact them directly in order to take information to organise delivery of the prize. Any information you provide will be subject to the privacy policy as set out on the website. 15. By entering and participating, the Participant agrees to hold harmless, defend and indemnify Instagram from and against any and all claims, demands, liability, damages or causes of action (however named or described), losses, costs or expenses, with respect to or arising out of or related to (i) entrant’s participation in the competition, or (ii) entrant’s participation in any Prize related activities, acceptance of a Prize and/or use or misuse of a Prize (including, without limitation, any property loss, damage, personal injury or death caused to any person(s).This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram. 16. Indesign Media, Meanwhile In Melbourne and participating competition brands reserve the right to publish entries to their social media accounts during the competition. Such publication does not guarantee an award of any kind to the Participant. Indesign Media reserves the right to publish all entries onto its website and social networking service accounts at any time and to make amendments to images where necessary. 17. Indesign Media and Meanwhile In Melbourne reserve in perpetuity the non-exclusive right to publish, reproduce, make public, display, print, distribute and screen winning entries on websites and public social networking service accounts, in photo exhibitions, without further compensation to or the additional prior consent of the participant. 18. Indesign Media will display the names of the winners and the titles of the winning entries on its websites and public social networking service accounts. 19. All prizes cannot be bartered and are not redeemable for cash.
For any further information, please contact David Congram: david@indesign.com.au
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Design Products
Accessories

MIITO – a green alternative to the electric kettle

The traditional electric kettle is a hugely inefficient item. If the energy from one day of use across the UK were saved, it would be enough to light all the streetlights in London for a night. It was this kind of information that drove European designers Nils Chudy and Jasmina Grase to come up with the MIITO. The MIITO is an innovative product that heats liquids directly in the vessel of the user, avoiding the long wait times and wasted energy of heating excess liquid in a traditional kettle. Today’s society asks for simple and practical products where sustainability comes first. MIITO is an answer to this. Funded through a Kickstarter campaign in May 2015 the team behind collected their goal 150k in a mere 38 hours. 30 Days later, and the team had secured 818k – giving a chance to start manufacturing. To use MIITO, one simply fills a cup with water, places it onto the induction base and immerses the rod in the liquid. MIITO has the option to set the temperature to one’s liking, ensuring delicate green and Oolong teas are heated to the right level. The induction base heats the rod, which in turns heats the liquid surrounding it. This is achieved with modern induction technology; wirelessly transfer heat and treating the base as an electromagnetic field generator. MIITO works with vessels of any size, and isn’t limited to water; it can heat milk for coffee, and even bowls of soup and baby food. The device is designed to completely replace any traditional kettle. It’s no wonder the design secured the coveted James Dyson Award in 2014. “Young inventors should design to solve a problem, and do so through lean engineering," says James Dyson. “Developing technology that is not only functional, but energy efficient too. MIITO is a clever design that demonstrates both.” MIITO is currently available for pre-order, with estimated delivery time being November 2016. MIITO miito.com MIITO-user3 05-MIITO_boiling 03-MIITO 02-MIITO 2015_09_28-MIITO-B&W  abc
Design Products
Lighting

Cozy design, clever result with the Shelter

A minimalist delight, Shelter plays with proportions and details, with the white inner of the shade providing a reflective surface for the light emitted from above to bounce off and illuminate the wider surrounding area. The conical shape of Shelter’s base and provides a soft and friendly feel, something too often missing in minimalist design, and serves as a charming juxtaposition to the clean and sharp lines of the lamp. A main feature of the lamp is the quirky brass detail at the base where the cord is connected. This flourish solves the problem of hiding the cord, says HolmbäckNordentoft ”The idea came from speculating about how one could create a visual connection between the cord and the lamp. A cord is a necessary evil. How could we make a necessity into a virtue? That's when we got the idea for the curved opening at the bottom of the lamp and the brass detail, which became a main feature of the overall feel of the Shelter.” Well-suited the living rooms as well as a reading lamp in the office or bedroom, Shelter is available in black, white and limestone grey from Normann Copenhagen. Normann Copenhagen normann-copenhagen.com NC-Furniture-Catalogue-2014-(90) NC-Furniture-Catalogue-2014-(12) 505047_Shelter_Table_Lamp_White_7 505047_Shelter_Table_Lamp_White_5_wider 505045_Shelter_Table_Lamp_Black_2  abc
Finishes

Cole & Son conjures the Miami cool in its latest wallpaper range

From Miami cool to Deco Palm, Cole & Son’s new Geometric II collection, available in Australia from Radford Furnishings, pays homage to the brand’s long history of wallpaper design, while also responding to a eclectic range of contemporary cultural influences. Jess Burnett, head of PR and Marketing at Cole & Son points out one the collection’s more arresting designs, Deco Palm, inspired by the exotic foliage found in Miami. Deco Palm combines a traditional geometric print with a jungle palm print – the latter one of Cole & Son’s most iconic designs, conceived by their screen print studio in 1949. Cole & Son - Geometric II - Deco Palm 105-8039 RGB LR Reinterpreting the original palm leaves, Deco Palm brings new life to the print through a series of colourways that take it from a subtle back-drop to a cinematic-style feature. From the ethnic beat of blues and burnished browns, to the electrifying acid yellow and charcoal, Cole & Son’s carefully curated colourations bring a whole spectrum of possibility to a single design. Cole & Son Geometric II Puzzle L 105-2011 RGB LR no advertising usage Yet the Cole & Son design studio does not follow trend – in fact they purposefully avoid trends, opting instead for exhibitions, art shows and an eclectic array of cultural influences that keep their creative IP fresh, sharp and just a little bit unexpected. Jess highlights the recent David Bowie exhibition at ACMI as a perfect example – if the team were based in Australia. The recent Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs exhibition at the Tate Modern left a strong impression on Cole & Son’s design team, the threads of this present in the DNA of their creative output. Cole & Son Geometric II Apex Grand L 105-10045 RBG LR no advertising usage “This [approach] helps our collections maintain longevity,” says Jess, highlighting some of Cole & Son’s best selling designs. “The palms being a great example of this. If you look at trends, they narrow you too much. It’s about creating things that will be loved for generations.” Certain designs within the collection, like the Escher-esque Miami, have so many facets, they can carry a diversity of colours.Other designs, such as Puzzle, host colour with a strength and simplicity that others might not. And each has its place within the collection as a whole. Cole & Son - Geometric II - Puzzle 105-2009 RGB LR “The colour inspiration for this product came from a box of Ladurée macaroons.” The French treats are renowned for their beautiful sorbet colours, which alone look tasty but together… “it is something beautiful”, says Jess. A more delectable collection you will not find. Now available in Australia through Radford Furnishings. Radford Furnishings radfordfurnishings.comabc
Happenings
What's On

Chairity Project Returns with 20 Reinterpreted Series 7 Chairs

The Chairity Project 2015 is the second edition of Cult’s esteemed charity event that invites leading Australian and New Zealand creatives to reinvent an iconic chair design. Each creative is given complete freedom to reinvent the chair, which is exhibited and auctioned off to a charity of the creative’s own choice.

This year Cult has partnered with the Republic of Fritz Hansen to reinvent the iconic Series 7 chair and pay homage to renowned Danish designer, Arne Jacobsen. The Chairity Event 2015 ties in with the 60th anniversary celebrations of the iconic Series 7 chair, which has also been released in two limited anniversary editions and a new colour scheme.

Cult has increased the line-up of creatives from a cross section of industrial design, architecture and art as well as floral and jewellery design. These include renowned local talents such as Dinosaur Designs, Akira Isogawa and David Trubridge.

Chairity Project 2015 will be displayed nationally throughout Cult showrooms in Sydney (5-7 November), Melbourne (12-14 November) and Brisbane (19-21 November).

All 20 works will be auctioned off with full proceeds going to the charity of the designer’s choice. The online auction goes live November 5 and closes November 22 at 8.00pm EST.

Cult cultdesign.com.au

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Design Products
Lighting

Ceramic Illumination

Offering a warm and tactile addition to the home, the Sunrise wall light is a slipcast earthenware ceramic light designed and manufactured by Melbourne industrial designer Ash Allen.

Protruding a mere 100mm from the wall, the light's delicate ceramic qualities are offset by a solid and simple appearance. The smooth half-moon shape is highlighted by a soft light that is cast upwards, adding mood and illumination to its surrounds.

The ceramic light features a matt finish on the outside and a clear gloss glaze on the inside. The light can be easily mounted onto the wall with a metal bracket and screws, and it comes with a socket to suit a standard B22 bayonet-type globe.

Catapult Design catapultdesign.net.au

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Design Hunters

Kenilworth encourages creativity with the Designer Dunny Competition

Prone to seasonal flooding the small town, in collaboration with the Sunshine Coast Council, is looking for a way to have not only a safe public restroom, but to also make its mark on the map with the Designer Dunny Competition. Councillor Greg Rogerson has championed the project from its inception and is keen on seeing what creative thinking a country loo could inspire. “The Sunshine Coast has a wealth of talented businesses and individuals working in the creative sector and through the development of national art competitions like this one, we are committing to supporting and growing this sector even further,” Rogerson said. “The site poses some interesting design challenges, with entrants having to design a structure that sits at least four metres above the existing ground level to avoid the building being affected by seasonal flooding. Sunshine Coast architect John Mainwaring joins Rogerson, Queensland Art Gallery Curator Lynne Seears, sculptor Greg Johns and former Kenilworth Arts Council President Shirley Moreland on the judging panel for the Designer Dunny Competition, which closes on January 29, 2016. “The Kenilworth Designer Dunny Competition recognises the importance of a building’s impact on its environment and also how the environment can influence the design of a functional and utilitarian structure,” Mr Mainwaring said “Isaac Moore Park sits at the entry of Kenilworth on the banks of the Mary River and will be an important welcoming statement for the town, so it’s important the structure is eye-catching and interesting, while also being reflective of the Kenilworth community and environment.” There’s still plenty of time to get cracking on a design, with entries closing on January 29, 2016, and a winner announced in March. Sunshine Coast Council sunshinecoast.qld.gov.auabc
Design Products
Furniture

Sculpture and Geometric Forms Collide in QTZ

Inspired by the naturally occurring geometric forms of Quartz, the QTZ collection is available in a range of powder coat colours and is manufactured in stainless steel using advanced technologies and craftsmanship.

QTZ was launched officially at Milan Design Week 2015, Ventura Lambrate in April, and now the collection is available at Hub Furniture, the exclusive distributor of QTZ in power coat finishes in Australia.

"Each piece in the collection bridges art and furniture in a way that speaks to his passion for materials, technology and craftsmanship," says Hub Managing Director, Jaci Foti-Lowe.

Photography by Florian Groehn

Hub Furniture hubfurniture.com.au

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