Design Products Finishes New horizons in carpet design with Moooi by Andrew McDonald 16 December The new collection from Moooi includes Dexter & Sinister, a design by Jurgen Bey, part of the Signature Family, and is centred on Heraldry, the shorthand of history, rank and protocol. Dexter and Sinister are in fact terms used in the heraldic language that refer to specific locations in the shield of the coat of arms. Alongside the Signature Family Moooi Carpet collection are two other families, the Moooi Works and Your Own Design collections. Each group offers a range of solutions to meet the demands of various projects and individual tastes. Moooi Carpets features bold new technology in the design process, generatinh extremely high definition prints that can result in photo realistic flooring solutions. The surreal, eye-catching designs of the Signature Carpets convey a sense of depth, intensity and even motion. The range features 48 eccentric and playful carpet designs, all designed by renowned names across, fashion, visual art and design worlds This is just the beginning for the brand though, as the Moooi Carpets plans to grow in different directions through an exploration of even further design options, from signature jewels to leave guests inspired, to beautiful designs that serve as the finishing touch on a home. Moooi moooi.com abc Architecture Homes A contemporary layer by Editorial Team 16 December Originally built in the late nineteenth century, the Victorian Italianate double-fronted home was given a Grecian makeover in the 1960s. The home’s original timber-framed windows were replaced with steel to increase the light and a brown brick fence added, replacing what would have once been decorative wrought iron. Looking at these changes today, many might have been disappointed. However, Gaby, the owner of this property, was charmed by the previous renovations, seeing them as another layer in the home’s history. “I loved all the layers, from the grape vine trellis to brown Aztec carpets on the floor. Even the café-style curtains suggested newly arrived migrants enjoying coffee,” says Gaby. While the 1960s quirks bought a smile, “There were things that didn’t work,” says Gaby, referring to the previous kitchen and lean-to, as well as a couple of poky bedrooms. But the ‘bones’ of the original home were good: high ceilings, solid walls, well-proportioned rooms and “Potential, with a large north-orientated back garden,” she remembers. She also warmed to the ‘dog-legged’ passage, with its distinctive linen cupboard. Gaby commissioned Multiplicity to re-work the house after reading a newspaper article on the directors, architect Tim O’Sullivan and his life and business partner, interior designer Sioux Clark. Visiting the Multiplicity office in Brunswick, a simple shed-like space filled with loved objects and artifacts, assured her of her choice. Gaby’s brief to Multiplicity included two bedrooms, sufficient wall space for art, light-filled rooms, an outdoor laundry and generous storage areas. High on her list was to embrace the 1960s influences rather than fight against them. This architectural approach is inherent in Multiplicity’s work, whether it’s a domestic or commercial project, with the directors, as well as staff, regularly fossicking in secondhand yards or visiting building sites and ‘rescuing’ materials so they can have a second life. And rather than just add a contemporary glass box on the back, as is often the case when renovating period homes, the preferred scheme was a subtle fusion between past and present. Although the new wing is clearly new, constructed in glass, steel, timber and fibro-cement, it borrows on the scale and proportions of the original house. “We barely increased the size of the home’s original footprint, after the lean-tos were removed,” says O’Sullivan. Within the wing, a new kitchen and casual dining area form an L-shape to the back garden. Linking the new to the old are textural elements from the home’s Grecian phase, such as the 1960s brown carpets cleverly reworked into wall panels. “We were originally going to use the carpet for rugs. But with the new timber floors, these wall panels soften the acoustics, and they add a sense of warmth to the interior,” says Clark. In addition, the kitchen features original 1970 tiles on the bench, which is also supported by a mix of 1950s and new wrought iron, bringing together past and present. To allow Gaby to enjoy her garden, designed by Andrew Plymin and filled with whimsical garden sculptures, Multiplicity included a generous built-in window seat in the new wing. Lined in timber and clearly articulated in steel, this seat is a favourite spot for Gaby. “People often find it strange occupying a new space. This seat provides a strong visual connection to the garden, but importantly, felt like a home, even before the furniture was arranged,” says Clark, who believes there should always be places to sit or ‘perch’ irrespective of loose furnishings. The office nook, located at the end of the passage, also subscribes to this approach, with built-in desk and stool enjoying vistas both indoors and out. The living room, with its sunken lounge, also offers another experience of the house. Orientated to the cream brick fireplace, it’s an ideal nook through the winter months. “I tend to move around the house depending on where the sun is. But I’m just as content lying on the bed reading,” says Gaby, who is as relaxed and informal as the house. “It’s important for Tim and I that each project captures the personality of its owner,” says Clark. “To have a series of formal spaces just wouldn’t have been appropriate for this place”. One of the most coveted areas in the house is the sunken shower/bath in the ensuite to the main bedroom. Lined with Moorish patterned tiles from the 1970s, the sunken bath is beautifully illuminated by an overhead skylight. And to make the experience of bathing even more pleasurable, there’s a bespoke steel screen in the adjacent courtyard, depicting kangaroos. “I’ve always responded to kangaroos and Australian wildlife,” says Gaby, whose collection of outdoor ceramics includes kookaburras and cockatoos. This renovation breaks away from the usual contemporary extension that denies a connection to the past. While Multiplicity should be commended for taking a different path, Gaby’s involvement also needs to be acknowledged. Lets face it, how many clients would select heavy bronze golden velvet for living room curtains? Or reveal a wall where tiles may once have appeared, as in the case of her office nook? It takes a certain client who can envisage 1960s carpet ‘woven’ into a contemporary design, but it’s with clients like these that Multiplicity have achieved something out of the ordinary. Photography by Emma Cross This article first appeared in Habitus #26. To subscribe, click here.abc Design Hunters Conversations In Conversation: Catherine Roberts by Editorial Team 15 December Can you tell us about how your obsession with design began, and what career path led to establishing Showroom in Brisbane? About a year and a half ago I opened a concept store called Showroom. Showroom trades in beautiful, artisanal design wares gathered from makers and brands from here in Brisbane, across Australia, and around the world. It’s curated like a magazine, ever changing like a gallery, and of course we’re in the business of selling things like a shop. I came to Australia from Canada nearly five years ago in support of my partner’s career. I had no idea back then that it would be here in Brisbane that I would create a dream and a business of my own. I started blogging when I first moved to Australia almost five years ago having met my Brisbane-born husband when we were both living in England. Through taking photographs around my home and kitchen I discovered it wasn't possible to find the styling props I wanted here, like cast iron skillets and mason jars and kraft paper shipping tags. From there I started a little online store and a market stall. That went well so I opened a pop up shop for about a month, and that's what sparked the idea for Showroom. I’m a professional historian by training; I’m a lover of stories with a soft spot for nostalgia. Although history may seem like an unlikely background for a retail entrepreneur, researching and teaching about the past enhanced my natural curiosity and honed my inclination to seek meaning and connection in ideas, relationships and material objects. This is at the core of what I, and by extension my business, am about. When and how did the concept for Showroom come to you? Can you tell us about your business ethos? With a little experience as a blogger and a few seasons of running my own market stall and online shop under my belt, I decided to see what I could do about re-thinking bricks and mortar retail. Here’s what I find so fascinating about retail: It’s clear to me that in 2015, our consumer brains have been significantly rewired by the internet and social media. Consciously or unconsciously, we’re all more design literate, more selective, and our appetite for content has grown. We’re more interested in the stories that give objects meaning, and more invested in the notion that our possessions reflect and shape our identities. This has largely come about because of the way incredibly innovative brands have rewritten the rules of online retail over the past 10 years. But here in the real world, where we all still mostly live, the way stores operate has stayed pretty much the same, and we’re seeing the impact of that with vacant signs up and down our high streets. This is worrying, because I believe that traditional shop-fronts are essential gathering places that keep our neighbourhoods vibrant and connected. I also believe that it’s important for our communities culturally and economically that artists, artisans and local businesses can afford to work and thrive. You just moved into a new location. Can you tell us a little about that? Have your offerings changed? Curation and a strong point of view are paramount to Showroom's identity and success – this is something I’ve realised and prioritised in the new space. I have a clear sense of how I want the store to look and feel, and I seek out artisans, brands, and products that fit my vision. We're not to everyone's taste, certainly, but people who love what's presented in store and online love it in its totally, and that's what I'm going for. I make most decision about the editorial content of Showroom on the basis of what I personally like the stories behind the things. My style is quite paired back and referential. I love quality materials worked in an unfussy way. I love clean-lined, heritage designs that feel warm and modern. A simple Falcon enamel camping mug is my idea of design perfection both for its aesthetic qualities and all that it evokes. Of course there are lots of things being made in the Brisbane community and further afield that I really like or find interesting but don’t fit into the aesthetic point of view I’m cultivating at Showroom. In those instances I think it’s important to be super edited and unwavering. In the old shop I think I was more eclectic than I am in the city, and what we’re cultivating here has much greater impact. How would you describe your new space, and what is it about the space that makes it special and personal project for you? Do you have any favourite aspects of the space? I love the character of the new space best. The new shop has huge windows, soaring ceilings, wide floorboards, and crisp white painted brick walls. I didn't want to erect anything that would compete with the character of the building, so our fit-out is all about white painted shelving and simple trestle tables. Everything can be easily reconfigured to suit the mix of products in store at any one time. I love rearranging the shop and never leave things as they are long enough to get bored! Tell us about a typical day at Showroom? I’m not sure there’s any such thing as typical which is one of the things I like about this self-made gig as CEO and editor-in-chief of my little empire. Still, certain routines do punctuate my days. I don't set an alarm but tend to naturally wake up quite early. I always start my morning with a cup of builder's tea. I check in on social media. I check in with my team. Most days I head into the store to spend the day helping customers or crack on with behind the scenes projects from WORKROOM. If I'm feeling overwhelmed, which I often do in times like this when so many elements of the business are expanding, I try to work a bit more from home so I can concentrate, eat well, and make sure I take the time to rest. Where do you find inspiration? I'm Canadian and was raised between the city and the woods. I think if you look closely you can see that background in the mix of products I place in store. I do spend a lot of time following inspiring brands, stylists, and content creators on social media, but I find it’s equally important to step away from that and immerse yourself in art, photography, and film. I switch off to read personal essays and novels as much as I can. Showroom show-room.com.au abc Design Hunters Conversations Chelsea Hing on Kitchens and Bathrooms by Editorial Team 15 December What is a trend you can identify in bathroom design and what does it reflect in a cultural, economic, social or environmental sense? There are a few trends that represent a cultural shift in how clients treat the family bathroom. Double showers for two kids to shower together and a single elongated vanity basin for kids to brush their teeth or get ready at the same time are now design ideas commonly received very well. Gone are the days when kids just got the basics, we’re now also looking at functional bathroom spaces that meet the needs of the whole family, not just the adults. I think this is reflective of the broader social phenomenon of ‘busyness’. Even the kids have to be multitasked. How is Australian bathroom design conservative and in what ways is it becoming more adventurous? Australians are obsessed with being practical in the bathroom, which means that we often end up with spaces that are purely utilitarian without much in the way of aesthetics. Our bathrooms all tend to look the same. Big-mirrored cabinets with acres of storage over a long vanity are still the norm. It’s rare to get a timber floor through or a finish more at home in the French countryside that would create character like a rough brick wall. Instead, we’re still tiling all surfaces for easy cleaning and easy care but this has robbed us of the opportunity to create real personality in the bathroom. Australians are slowly embracing decorative lighting in the bathroom to create mood as well as having some fun in the powder room but we’ve got a long way to go if we want to create bathroom spaces that are a joy to hang out in and be truly restorative. What product in the bathroom can provide the greatest design impact? Nothing beats a great layout first and foremost with all those tricky junctions between showers, baths and toilets fully resolved. I think of design as a product that way – what can it deliver? Next is a beautiful palette of finishes with some incredible tiles and a vanity design fit for your living room [see Zuster’s Issy range for Reece below, taking furniture design into the bathroom]. Beautiful tapware and sanitary-ware that are a joy to use and clean is key. Natural light is the holy grail but often very difficult to incorporate in many bathroom spaces that are either landlocked or concerned with privacy [see the Binnie House image with round skylight over shower, below]. How can bathrooms respond better to environmental concerns through design? I’m always focused on how I can create a beautiful design that will stand the test of time, that’s how I think of sustainability. If you intend for something to exist for a long time, you are more than likely to resolve the design well and choose materials that are not fashionable or of the moment. We rip out far too many bathrooms that are not old but just haven’t been designed well. Then I think its selecting finishes that have a sustainable pedigree, I’m thinking of Mutina’s Tierras range by Patricia Urquiola [see below]. Where is bathroom design heading in the future? Tiles that breathe, multifunctional tapware integrated with accessories [see Agape Sen tapware, below], and beautiful baths for two that you can really enjoy [see Marcio Kogan bath, below]. Decorative elements like artwork, lighting and rugs will go a long way to softening hard bathroom spaces. Upping the ante on colour and personality will also slowly make their way into bathroom design [see the image of the green ceiling, below]. And for kitchens, the inclusion of a secret bar [see Binnie House with claret bar behind sliding door, below]. What is your favourite memory that takes place in the kitchen? My mum chopping up hot barbecued pork bought from Chinatown and stealing bits off the side of the chopping block. What is the most important item or product in your kitchen and why? My Louis Poulsen Panthella table lamp. It gives my kitchen personality as well as much-needed task lighting. I leave it on every night for the warm glow after the kitchen has closed down for the night. Adding decorative features into kitchens and bathrooms to soften them is key. What are the three things you always have in your refrigerator? Three things that are a staple in my fridge are full cream milk, parmesan cheese and eggs, you can whip up quite a few things with these three. What's your favourite cooking aroma? Onions and garlic cooking off, it’s often the start of something. What's your least favourite kitchen chore? Cleaning the oven, biggest mistake I made not getting a pyrolytic oven. Chelsea Hing chelseahing.comabc Happenings What's On Dates and new highlights announced for Melbourne Indesign 2016 by Editorial Team 14 December Melbourne Indesign 2016 will be an immersive, highly-curated design experience, brought to you by Indesign Media Asia Pacific. Whilst maintaining all the features of Indesign: The Event that people have come to love, Melbourne Indesign 2016 will also offer a host of new features for visitors and exhibitors. A renewed curatorial approach will see each of the three precincts (Collingwood, Melbourne CBD and Richmond) boast a unique identity. These identities will be reflected within pop-up spaces, transformed showrooms and design trails, available to architects, designers and specifiers, exclusively during Melbourne Indesign. Visitors can also expect fantastic installations, game-changing talks and a true immersion in the design life of the city. The Project, a crowd-pulling injection of creativity, will also return in 2016, benefiting from this curatorial approach. Each precinct will have its own unique Project theme, ensuring diversity and excitement in the collaborations. With 2015’s projects including everything from a colourful and child-like ball pit to a live dance presentation, The Project keeps getting better and better. Our seminar series will also be returning by popular demand, with topics announced early next year. In 2015 the seminars were a stunning success, with incredible panellists from around the world and insightful and accessible topics. When: Friday 12th and Saturday 13th August 2016. Where: Collingwood, Melbourne CBD and Richmond Cost: As always Melbourne Indesign will be free to attend, with guests receiving plenty of bonuses for attending. In 2015 tens of thousands of dollars worth of prizes were given away. Reach: 7,500 visitors / 45,510 total audience For more information visit: melbourneindesign.com.au facebook.com/indesigntheeventabc Design Products Habitus Loves Habitus Loves… Gift Ideas for Plant Lovers by Editorial Team 14 December Indoor Green: Living With Plants Created by: Bree Claffey Why we love it: Indoor Green: Living With Plants is a beautiful hardback coffee table book that takes readers through plant-filled homes, studios and shops. Authored by Mr Kitly’s Bree Claffey with photography by Lauren Bamford, Indoor Green is packed with extensive knowledge, inspirational finds and practical advice. Post-Christmas, readers will certainly be visiting their local plant shop with creative ideas for greening their abode. Where you can get it: Mr Kitly Tetrus Hanging Planter by MRD Home Created by: MRD Home Why we love it: Not since the 1970s have hanging houseplants been so popular, freeing up floor and surface space and adding luscious green touches all around a room. MRD Home’s planter combines the raw, refined beauty and simplicity of concrete with blush leather and will look beautiful with Devil's Ivy (Golden Pothos / Epipremnum aureum) curling around its straps and draping over the edges. Where you can get it: Mint Interior Design Selfwatering Plant Pot by Mr Kitly x Decor Created by: Richard Carlson Why we love it: Richard Carlson’s 1980s classic of the plant world is back with thanks to Mr Kitly in collaboration with Decor. The self-watering plant pot is simple to use and will tempt all those dabbling with indoor plants: just add water from above for the first few days then top up via the water well below as needed. The minimalist plastic pots are available in four colours. Where you can get it: Mr Kitly Daisy Plant Stand by Ivy Muse Created by: Jacqui Vidal and Alana Langan Why we love it: Jacqui Vidal and Alana Langan are the long-time friends behind Ivy Muse, designing beautiful plant stands made locally in Melbourne. The Daisy plant stand is part of their Calypso collection, which features striking shapes, patterns and colours. Set a Hoya Heuschkeliana in the top and its beautiful leaves will trail down the side. Where you can get it: Ivy Muse Gardening Tools by Grafa Created by: Travis Blandford Why we love it: Based in Melbourne’s inner west, Grafa’s Travis Blandford handcrafts a distinctive range of gardening tools in new and recycled copper, bronze and timber. In materials beneficial for the soil and designed to connect hand and earth, Grafa tools will serve both gardens and gardeners well for many years to come. Where you can get it: Grafa A plant from The Plantarum Created by: Sonia Killmore Why we love it: A plant is a gift that keeps on giving adding colour and life to a home as well as improving air quality and plant-owners’ moods. The Plantarum offers a bespoke plant-oriented service with lots of “easy-going plants” to choose from. Wrapped with natural hand dyed indigo cotton, The Plantarum’s selection of plants are good to go for Christmas day. Where you can get it: The Plantarum Ceramic Planter by Sophie Moran Created by: Sophie Moran Why we love it: If you’re shopping for someone with a great appreciation for the textured look and feel of pottery then Sophie Moran’s handcrafted ceramic pots are plant- and present-perfect. Working from a private studio in Collingwood, Melbourne, Sophie makes planters in simple, functional and timeless forms with a soft colour palette to complement the potted plant. Where you can get it: Modern Times 30:30 Landscape Architecture Created by: Meaghan Kombol Why we love it: For landscaping and design enthusiasts, 30:30 Landscape Architecture by Meaghan Kombol showcases contemporary landscape design from around the globe. 30 renowned and influential landscape architects explore the work of 30 next-generation landscape architects, divulging their inspirations and design processes and debating key issues. Where you can get it: Angus & Robertson Greenwall by SkALE Greenwall Created by: SkALE Greenwall Why we love it: Add a lot of lush greenery to a balcony or garden with a vertical garden or green wall. SkALE Greenwall’s easy-to-install system is made up of lots of individual pieces joined together for a customised size. Fill with herbs, succulents or plants to create a personally-tailored green wall. Where you can get it: Vertigro Case Study Cylinder Planter by Modernica Created by: Modernica Why we love it: Modernica’s Case Study Planter originated during the prolific design period of the 1950s and 60s and combines the modernist aesthetic with the notion that ‘good design’ should be available to all. A cylindrical ceramic pot nestles into an elegant wooded frame for a classic yet fresh addition to the home. Where you can get it: Top3 Haws 1L Watering Can Created by: Haws Why we love it: Handmade in the UK, Haws is the dedicated gardener’s watering can of choice. Made from galvanised sheet metal with a powder-coated finish (in sage, duckegg blue, cream, green and burgundy), Haws Watering Cans have an elegant design with curves in the all right the places. Where you can get it: The Potting Shed Tools abc Design Products Habitus Loves Habitus Loves… Melbourne Potters by Editorial Team 11 December Stillness Created by: Shiko Why we love it: Sophie Harle's work can be seen in many cafes around Melbourne. Inspired by the Japanese concept of mingei (the handcrafted art of ordinary people), her functional vessels are designed for everyday use – a quiet simplicity speaking through smooth, caress-worthy surfaces. Where you can get it: Shiko Playful Created by: Takeawei Why we love it: Chela Edmunds makes functional wheel-thrown tableware with a sense of humour. Cups are dappled with colourful hues inspired by nature, while finger-painted patterns add a definitive handmade touch to bowls and vessels. The fried egg brekky plate is on our wish list. Where you can get it: Takeawei From the earth Created by: Sarah Schembri Why we love it: Sarah's work sees wheel-thrown stoneware clay finished with a shino glaze to produce an earthy speckle. This ceramicist draws from Japanese traditions to make textural beakers, salad bowls, plates and the occasional spoon. Where you can get it: Sarah Schembri Quirk factor Created by: Jessilla Rogers Why we love it: This young potter handbuilds cups and plates in abstract, wonky shapes, which are then playfully painted in all manner of colours and the occasional dash of gold lustre. Possibly the most fun your makeshift chip 'n' dip bowl and plate could ever be. Where you can get it: Jessilla Rogers Blue Created by: La Petite Fabrique de Brunswick Why we love it: French-born emerging potter Lucile Sciallano creates slip-cast porcelain cups, bowls and platters from her studio in Brunswick. Marbling and milky-way patterns in her signature blue tones splay across fine forms – each stain unique to that particular vessel. Where you can get it: La Petite Fabrique de Brunswick Organic Created by: Bridget Bodenham Why we love it: Technically based in Daylesford, not Melbourne, this beloved earth bender shapes stoneware, raku and porcelain clays into delightfully tactile cups, spoons and plates. Motifs sway from gold speckles to handpainted indigo stripes, with the tones and textures of nature present in each collection. Where you can get it: Bridget Bodenham Double Dip Created by: Brooke Thorn Ceramics Why we love it: This interior designer turned ceramicist makes beautiful wheel-thrown and mould-cast functional tableware. From sweet side bowls to beakers and large platters, you can complete a single-hued set or mix-and-match your own colourways. Where you can get it: Brooke Thorn Ceramics abc Happenings What's On Human sculptures grace Hong Kong in Event Horizon by Andrew McDonald 10 December Conceived by British artist Antony Gormley, Event Horizon officially launched on November 19 and remind be a part of the Hong Kong cityscape until May 18, 2016. The most extensive public art installation ever seen in the city, Event Horizon brings Hong Kongers a chance to see their city in new and unique ways. The 31 sculptures have been installed at both street level and, quite strikingly, stop buildings across a kilometre wide zone of the city’s Central and Western district. “Event Horizon captures the particular time of a particular body: a subjective place,” says artist and creator Antony Gormley. “The principle dynamic of the work is the relationship between imagination and the horizon, involving the citizen in a game of seeking and perhaps finding. Beyond those figures that you can actually see, how many more are out of sight? Where is the meeting place of earth and sky? Event Horizon engages Hong Kongers in the desire to look up and look again at familiar places in a new way, inviting reflection on human nature and our place in the wider scheme of things.” Presented in collaboration between the British Council Hong Kong with support from partner K11 Art Foundation, Hong Kong is the first Asian city to stage the installation, which previously impressed viewers in London, Rotterdam, New York, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. For Hong Kong, Event Horizon is being complimented by an education and outreach program, which includes activities and support tools for students, teachers and interested public. Photography by Oak Taylor-Smith Event Horizon eventhorizon.hk abc Happenings What's On Alesandro Ljubicic and the Scent of Painting by Andrew McDonald 10 December Running from February 3 to 27, 2016 at Michael Reid Sydney, The Scent of Painting gallery exhibition will showcase a new, colourfully intense body of paintings. Physically immersive, the new gallery serves as Alesandro Ljubicic’s response to the beauty of nature, and envelops the viewer in playfully experimental hues. The gallery is a creative collaboration between Ljubicic himself, Sydney-based florist Mr. Cook, Brisbane-based perfumer Damask Perfumery and Scotland’s bespoke scarf manufacturer Kmossed. This sees Ljubicic inviting audiences on a multi-layered sensory experience through colour, aroma and texture. Ljubicic's talent in both the large and small scale still life floral worlds is revealed in full in The Scent of Painting, going so far as to closely work closely with floral designer Sean Cook in order to truly grasp the beauty of flowers. To compliment the new body of work, Ljubicic has also created a soecuak magnolia infused scent and a range of limited edition hand-made scarves. “In essence I am creating a multi-layered experience that provokes all the senses. This new body of work moves beyond the canvas to explore new creative forms that the audience can interact with in an intimate way,” explains Ljubicic. The exhibition itself will be encompassing the entirety of Michael Reid Sydney’s late-Victorian terrace building, with all of three exhibition spaces showcasing the creativity of all involved. Ljubicic comes to the art world following study at the National Art School in Sydney. Since graduating, his works have been featured in curated group shows around Australia, exhibited work at Sydney Contemporary Art Fair and in a series of solo shows in Sydney and Melbourne. Alesandro Ljubicic alesandroljubicic.com Michael Reid Sydney michaelreid.com.au abc Design Hunters The City of Sydney and kil.n.it moulding ceramic artists of tomorrow by Andrew McDonald 9 December The artists and teachers at kil.n.it have a new space containing six artists’ studios, a live and work apartment for visiting artists, a workshop and two kilns for hire. The space has been funded by an accommodation grant from the City of Sydney worth $100,000 over two years. Ultimately, kil.n.it aims to make ceramic arts more accessible for Sydneysiders and out of town visitors. This has the group kil.n.it offering opportunities for artists of all skill levels, and the ceramic curious, the chance to get dirty with the clay. The new hub at the City’s Nurses Quarters building on Glebe Point Road includes a comprehensive program of classes and educational programs for industry and local residents. Bookings for classes for adults and kids alike can be made on kil.n.it’s new website, launched in conjunction with the new space. “The aim is to provide affordable, accessible ceramic-making to artists and the broader community,” says director Bev Shroot. “kil.n.it has emerged as a response to the increasing popularity of ceramics as an artistic medium. We aim to provide ceramic studio space with an experimental approach.” As well as operating the space, kil.n.it also will also be managing a series of fixed-term artist tenancies at the site and the live/work apartment. This will provide an affordable residency program for visiting artists to better foster collaboration between emerging and established artists. kil.n.it kil-n-it.com abc Happenings What's On Art Month Sydney is back with fresh ideas 2016 by Andrew McDonald 9 December Running from March 1 to March 20, Art Month Sydney returns in 2016 with new Creative Director, Barry Keldoulis. The 2016 program has been inspired by the creative producers of Sydney and expands across the city to previously unused spaces and unexpected locations. Art Month Sydney will include exhibitions, talks, tours and experiences, not to mention the much‐loved Precinct Nights. The event will highlight the galleries, institutions, artist-run-initiatives, art schools, artists and curators that make up Sydney’s marketplace of art and ideas. “If we think of the city as an engine that drives creativity, what are the parts of the motor that move differently but in union to produce forward motion?” asks Barry, “It’s often said that artists aren’t artists because they want to be, but because they have to be. If it’s the artists’ creative juices that are the fuel, what, are the pistons that fire, the drive shafts that crank, and the wheels that turn to get this engine of creativity moving. Art Month 2016 throws the elemental pieces of that engine down in front of you, artists, art schools, studios, galleries, institutions, both “bricks and mortar and virtual”, collections private and public, for you to piece together how these form a working whole.” The annual Collectors’ Space will again celebrate private art collections, and in 2016 will be presented in an unoccupied inner city house. The space, which will be announced only weeks before the exhibition opens, will showcase works from the collections of Sally Dan‐ Cuthbert, Courtney Gibson, Danny Goldberg, and Jasper Knight. The domestic setting of the Collectors’ Space will offer a homely context not normally associated with public exhibitions Precinct Nights in Art Month Sydney 2016, and begins with a Mardi Gras‐inspired queer night in Eastern Sydney on March the 3rd. Queer performers will transform restaurants, bars and retail stores during the night, and Alaska Studios is hosting a queer cabaret in their untouched basement space. The full Art Month Sydney 2016 program will be announced early January 2016. Art Month Sydney artmonthsydney.com.au abc Architecture Homes Coastal Modernity by Editorial Team 9 December Principle architect, Simon Perkins together with principle interior designer, Kanako Nakanishi have created a striking home that captures the spirit of its surrounds. The dwelling includes a double garage, four bedrooms and a lounge, as well as an open plan kitchen, meals and living space that opens onto a lush green lawn and surrounding bushland. A long lineal roof plane caps the entire building, and a striking vertical timber screen protects the deck that extends the length of the northern exterior. Large full height black aluminium doors connect the living areas and master bedroom to the deck and garden beyond, allowing sunlight to drench the internal spaces. White oiled oak floors add a contemporary but rustic sensibility to the interior palette, as well as stainless steel and marble bench tops, oak joinery and a white mosaic tiled splash back. Photography by Hilary Bradford and Derek Swalwell Styling by Heather Nette King InForm informdesign.com.au abc ← Previous Page 1 2 3 4 5 Next Page → TOP
Architecture Homes A contemporary layer by Editorial Team 16 December Originally built in the late nineteenth century, the Victorian Italianate double-fronted home was given a Grecian makeover in the 1960s. The home’s original timber-framed windows were replaced with steel to increase the light and a brown brick fence added, replacing what would have once been decorative wrought iron. Looking at these changes today, many might have been disappointed. However, Gaby, the owner of this property, was charmed by the previous renovations, seeing them as another layer in the home’s history. “I loved all the layers, from the grape vine trellis to brown Aztec carpets on the floor. Even the café-style curtains suggested newly arrived migrants enjoying coffee,” says Gaby. While the 1960s quirks bought a smile, “There were things that didn’t work,” says Gaby, referring to the previous kitchen and lean-to, as well as a couple of poky bedrooms. But the ‘bones’ of the original home were good: high ceilings, solid walls, well-proportioned rooms and “Potential, with a large north-orientated back garden,” she remembers. She also warmed to the ‘dog-legged’ passage, with its distinctive linen cupboard. Gaby commissioned Multiplicity to re-work the house after reading a newspaper article on the directors, architect Tim O’Sullivan and his life and business partner, interior designer Sioux Clark. Visiting the Multiplicity office in Brunswick, a simple shed-like space filled with loved objects and artifacts, assured her of her choice. Gaby’s brief to Multiplicity included two bedrooms, sufficient wall space for art, light-filled rooms, an outdoor laundry and generous storage areas. High on her list was to embrace the 1960s influences rather than fight against them. This architectural approach is inherent in Multiplicity’s work, whether it’s a domestic or commercial project, with the directors, as well as staff, regularly fossicking in secondhand yards or visiting building sites and ‘rescuing’ materials so they can have a second life. And rather than just add a contemporary glass box on the back, as is often the case when renovating period homes, the preferred scheme was a subtle fusion between past and present. Although the new wing is clearly new, constructed in glass, steel, timber and fibro-cement, it borrows on the scale and proportions of the original house. “We barely increased the size of the home’s original footprint, after the lean-tos were removed,” says O’Sullivan. Within the wing, a new kitchen and casual dining area form an L-shape to the back garden. Linking the new to the old are textural elements from the home’s Grecian phase, such as the 1960s brown carpets cleverly reworked into wall panels. “We were originally going to use the carpet for rugs. But with the new timber floors, these wall panels soften the acoustics, and they add a sense of warmth to the interior,” says Clark. In addition, the kitchen features original 1970 tiles on the bench, which is also supported by a mix of 1950s and new wrought iron, bringing together past and present. To allow Gaby to enjoy her garden, designed by Andrew Plymin and filled with whimsical garden sculptures, Multiplicity included a generous built-in window seat in the new wing. Lined in timber and clearly articulated in steel, this seat is a favourite spot for Gaby. “People often find it strange occupying a new space. This seat provides a strong visual connection to the garden, but importantly, felt like a home, even before the furniture was arranged,” says Clark, who believes there should always be places to sit or ‘perch’ irrespective of loose furnishings. The office nook, located at the end of the passage, also subscribes to this approach, with built-in desk and stool enjoying vistas both indoors and out. The living room, with its sunken lounge, also offers another experience of the house. Orientated to the cream brick fireplace, it’s an ideal nook through the winter months. “I tend to move around the house depending on where the sun is. But I’m just as content lying on the bed reading,” says Gaby, who is as relaxed and informal as the house. “It’s important for Tim and I that each project captures the personality of its owner,” says Clark. “To have a series of formal spaces just wouldn’t have been appropriate for this place”. One of the most coveted areas in the house is the sunken shower/bath in the ensuite to the main bedroom. Lined with Moorish patterned tiles from the 1970s, the sunken bath is beautifully illuminated by an overhead skylight. And to make the experience of bathing even more pleasurable, there’s a bespoke steel screen in the adjacent courtyard, depicting kangaroos. “I’ve always responded to kangaroos and Australian wildlife,” says Gaby, whose collection of outdoor ceramics includes kookaburras and cockatoos. This renovation breaks away from the usual contemporary extension that denies a connection to the past. While Multiplicity should be commended for taking a different path, Gaby’s involvement also needs to be acknowledged. Lets face it, how many clients would select heavy bronze golden velvet for living room curtains? Or reveal a wall where tiles may once have appeared, as in the case of her office nook? It takes a certain client who can envisage 1960s carpet ‘woven’ into a contemporary design, but it’s with clients like these that Multiplicity have achieved something out of the ordinary. Photography by Emma Cross This article first appeared in Habitus #26. To subscribe, click here.abc Design Hunters Conversations In Conversation: Catherine Roberts by Editorial Team 15 December Can you tell us about how your obsession with design began, and what career path led to establishing Showroom in Brisbane? About a year and a half ago I opened a concept store called Showroom. Showroom trades in beautiful, artisanal design wares gathered from makers and brands from here in Brisbane, across Australia, and around the world. It’s curated like a magazine, ever changing like a gallery, and of course we’re in the business of selling things like a shop. I came to Australia from Canada nearly five years ago in support of my partner’s career. I had no idea back then that it would be here in Brisbane that I would create a dream and a business of my own. I started blogging when I first moved to Australia almost five years ago having met my Brisbane-born husband when we were both living in England. Through taking photographs around my home and kitchen I discovered it wasn't possible to find the styling props I wanted here, like cast iron skillets and mason jars and kraft paper shipping tags. From there I started a little online store and a market stall. That went well so I opened a pop up shop for about a month, and that's what sparked the idea for Showroom. I’m a professional historian by training; I’m a lover of stories with a soft spot for nostalgia. Although history may seem like an unlikely background for a retail entrepreneur, researching and teaching about the past enhanced my natural curiosity and honed my inclination to seek meaning and connection in ideas, relationships and material objects. This is at the core of what I, and by extension my business, am about. When and how did the concept for Showroom come to you? Can you tell us about your business ethos? With a little experience as a blogger and a few seasons of running my own market stall and online shop under my belt, I decided to see what I could do about re-thinking bricks and mortar retail. Here’s what I find so fascinating about retail: It’s clear to me that in 2015, our consumer brains have been significantly rewired by the internet and social media. Consciously or unconsciously, we’re all more design literate, more selective, and our appetite for content has grown. We’re more interested in the stories that give objects meaning, and more invested in the notion that our possessions reflect and shape our identities. This has largely come about because of the way incredibly innovative brands have rewritten the rules of online retail over the past 10 years. But here in the real world, where we all still mostly live, the way stores operate has stayed pretty much the same, and we’re seeing the impact of that with vacant signs up and down our high streets. This is worrying, because I believe that traditional shop-fronts are essential gathering places that keep our neighbourhoods vibrant and connected. I also believe that it’s important for our communities culturally and economically that artists, artisans and local businesses can afford to work and thrive. You just moved into a new location. Can you tell us a little about that? Have your offerings changed? Curation and a strong point of view are paramount to Showroom's identity and success – this is something I’ve realised and prioritised in the new space. I have a clear sense of how I want the store to look and feel, and I seek out artisans, brands, and products that fit my vision. We're not to everyone's taste, certainly, but people who love what's presented in store and online love it in its totally, and that's what I'm going for. I make most decision about the editorial content of Showroom on the basis of what I personally like the stories behind the things. My style is quite paired back and referential. I love quality materials worked in an unfussy way. I love clean-lined, heritage designs that feel warm and modern. A simple Falcon enamel camping mug is my idea of design perfection both for its aesthetic qualities and all that it evokes. Of course there are lots of things being made in the Brisbane community and further afield that I really like or find interesting but don’t fit into the aesthetic point of view I’m cultivating at Showroom. In those instances I think it’s important to be super edited and unwavering. In the old shop I think I was more eclectic than I am in the city, and what we’re cultivating here has much greater impact. How would you describe your new space, and what is it about the space that makes it special and personal project for you? Do you have any favourite aspects of the space? I love the character of the new space best. The new shop has huge windows, soaring ceilings, wide floorboards, and crisp white painted brick walls. I didn't want to erect anything that would compete with the character of the building, so our fit-out is all about white painted shelving and simple trestle tables. Everything can be easily reconfigured to suit the mix of products in store at any one time. I love rearranging the shop and never leave things as they are long enough to get bored! Tell us about a typical day at Showroom? I’m not sure there’s any such thing as typical which is one of the things I like about this self-made gig as CEO and editor-in-chief of my little empire. Still, certain routines do punctuate my days. I don't set an alarm but tend to naturally wake up quite early. I always start my morning with a cup of builder's tea. I check in on social media. I check in with my team. Most days I head into the store to spend the day helping customers or crack on with behind the scenes projects from WORKROOM. If I'm feeling overwhelmed, which I often do in times like this when so many elements of the business are expanding, I try to work a bit more from home so I can concentrate, eat well, and make sure I take the time to rest. Where do you find inspiration? I'm Canadian and was raised between the city and the woods. I think if you look closely you can see that background in the mix of products I place in store. I do spend a lot of time following inspiring brands, stylists, and content creators on social media, but I find it’s equally important to step away from that and immerse yourself in art, photography, and film. I switch off to read personal essays and novels as much as I can. Showroom show-room.com.au abc Design Hunters Conversations Chelsea Hing on Kitchens and Bathrooms by Editorial Team 15 December What is a trend you can identify in bathroom design and what does it reflect in a cultural, economic, social or environmental sense? There are a few trends that represent a cultural shift in how clients treat the family bathroom. Double showers for two kids to shower together and a single elongated vanity basin for kids to brush their teeth or get ready at the same time are now design ideas commonly received very well. Gone are the days when kids just got the basics, we’re now also looking at functional bathroom spaces that meet the needs of the whole family, not just the adults. I think this is reflective of the broader social phenomenon of ‘busyness’. Even the kids have to be multitasked. How is Australian bathroom design conservative and in what ways is it becoming more adventurous? Australians are obsessed with being practical in the bathroom, which means that we often end up with spaces that are purely utilitarian without much in the way of aesthetics. Our bathrooms all tend to look the same. Big-mirrored cabinets with acres of storage over a long vanity are still the norm. It’s rare to get a timber floor through or a finish more at home in the French countryside that would create character like a rough brick wall. Instead, we’re still tiling all surfaces for easy cleaning and easy care but this has robbed us of the opportunity to create real personality in the bathroom. Australians are slowly embracing decorative lighting in the bathroom to create mood as well as having some fun in the powder room but we’ve got a long way to go if we want to create bathroom spaces that are a joy to hang out in and be truly restorative. What product in the bathroom can provide the greatest design impact? Nothing beats a great layout first and foremost with all those tricky junctions between showers, baths and toilets fully resolved. I think of design as a product that way – what can it deliver? Next is a beautiful palette of finishes with some incredible tiles and a vanity design fit for your living room [see Zuster’s Issy range for Reece below, taking furniture design into the bathroom]. Beautiful tapware and sanitary-ware that are a joy to use and clean is key. Natural light is the holy grail but often very difficult to incorporate in many bathroom spaces that are either landlocked or concerned with privacy [see the Binnie House image with round skylight over shower, below]. How can bathrooms respond better to environmental concerns through design? I’m always focused on how I can create a beautiful design that will stand the test of time, that’s how I think of sustainability. If you intend for something to exist for a long time, you are more than likely to resolve the design well and choose materials that are not fashionable or of the moment. We rip out far too many bathrooms that are not old but just haven’t been designed well. Then I think its selecting finishes that have a sustainable pedigree, I’m thinking of Mutina’s Tierras range by Patricia Urquiola [see below]. Where is bathroom design heading in the future? Tiles that breathe, multifunctional tapware integrated with accessories [see Agape Sen tapware, below], and beautiful baths for two that you can really enjoy [see Marcio Kogan bath, below]. Decorative elements like artwork, lighting and rugs will go a long way to softening hard bathroom spaces. Upping the ante on colour and personality will also slowly make their way into bathroom design [see the image of the green ceiling, below]. And for kitchens, the inclusion of a secret bar [see Binnie House with claret bar behind sliding door, below]. What is your favourite memory that takes place in the kitchen? My mum chopping up hot barbecued pork bought from Chinatown and stealing bits off the side of the chopping block. What is the most important item or product in your kitchen and why? My Louis Poulsen Panthella table lamp. It gives my kitchen personality as well as much-needed task lighting. I leave it on every night for the warm glow after the kitchen has closed down for the night. Adding decorative features into kitchens and bathrooms to soften them is key. What are the three things you always have in your refrigerator? Three things that are a staple in my fridge are full cream milk, parmesan cheese and eggs, you can whip up quite a few things with these three. What's your favourite cooking aroma? Onions and garlic cooking off, it’s often the start of something. What's your least favourite kitchen chore? Cleaning the oven, biggest mistake I made not getting a pyrolytic oven. Chelsea Hing chelseahing.comabc Happenings What's On Dates and new highlights announced for Melbourne Indesign 2016 by Editorial Team 14 December Melbourne Indesign 2016 will be an immersive, highly-curated design experience, brought to you by Indesign Media Asia Pacific. Whilst maintaining all the features of Indesign: The Event that people have come to love, Melbourne Indesign 2016 will also offer a host of new features for visitors and exhibitors. A renewed curatorial approach will see each of the three precincts (Collingwood, Melbourne CBD and Richmond) boast a unique identity. These identities will be reflected within pop-up spaces, transformed showrooms and design trails, available to architects, designers and specifiers, exclusively during Melbourne Indesign. Visitors can also expect fantastic installations, game-changing talks and a true immersion in the design life of the city. The Project, a crowd-pulling injection of creativity, will also return in 2016, benefiting from this curatorial approach. Each precinct will have its own unique Project theme, ensuring diversity and excitement in the collaborations. With 2015’s projects including everything from a colourful and child-like ball pit to a live dance presentation, The Project keeps getting better and better. Our seminar series will also be returning by popular demand, with topics announced early next year. In 2015 the seminars were a stunning success, with incredible panellists from around the world and insightful and accessible topics. When: Friday 12th and Saturday 13th August 2016. Where: Collingwood, Melbourne CBD and Richmond Cost: As always Melbourne Indesign will be free to attend, with guests receiving plenty of bonuses for attending. In 2015 tens of thousands of dollars worth of prizes were given away. Reach: 7,500 visitors / 45,510 total audience For more information visit: melbourneindesign.com.au facebook.com/indesigntheeventabc Design Products Habitus Loves Habitus Loves… Gift Ideas for Plant Lovers by Editorial Team 14 December Indoor Green: Living With Plants Created by: Bree Claffey Why we love it: Indoor Green: Living With Plants is a beautiful hardback coffee table book that takes readers through plant-filled homes, studios and shops. Authored by Mr Kitly’s Bree Claffey with photography by Lauren Bamford, Indoor Green is packed with extensive knowledge, inspirational finds and practical advice. Post-Christmas, readers will certainly be visiting their local plant shop with creative ideas for greening their abode. Where you can get it: Mr Kitly Tetrus Hanging Planter by MRD Home Created by: MRD Home Why we love it: Not since the 1970s have hanging houseplants been so popular, freeing up floor and surface space and adding luscious green touches all around a room. MRD Home’s planter combines the raw, refined beauty and simplicity of concrete with blush leather and will look beautiful with Devil's Ivy (Golden Pothos / Epipremnum aureum) curling around its straps and draping over the edges. Where you can get it: Mint Interior Design Selfwatering Plant Pot by Mr Kitly x Decor Created by: Richard Carlson Why we love it: Richard Carlson’s 1980s classic of the plant world is back with thanks to Mr Kitly in collaboration with Decor. The self-watering plant pot is simple to use and will tempt all those dabbling with indoor plants: just add water from above for the first few days then top up via the water well below as needed. The minimalist plastic pots are available in four colours. Where you can get it: Mr Kitly Daisy Plant Stand by Ivy Muse Created by: Jacqui Vidal and Alana Langan Why we love it: Jacqui Vidal and Alana Langan are the long-time friends behind Ivy Muse, designing beautiful plant stands made locally in Melbourne. The Daisy plant stand is part of their Calypso collection, which features striking shapes, patterns and colours. Set a Hoya Heuschkeliana in the top and its beautiful leaves will trail down the side. Where you can get it: Ivy Muse Gardening Tools by Grafa Created by: Travis Blandford Why we love it: Based in Melbourne’s inner west, Grafa’s Travis Blandford handcrafts a distinctive range of gardening tools in new and recycled copper, bronze and timber. In materials beneficial for the soil and designed to connect hand and earth, Grafa tools will serve both gardens and gardeners well for many years to come. Where you can get it: Grafa A plant from The Plantarum Created by: Sonia Killmore Why we love it: A plant is a gift that keeps on giving adding colour and life to a home as well as improving air quality and plant-owners’ moods. The Plantarum offers a bespoke plant-oriented service with lots of “easy-going plants” to choose from. Wrapped with natural hand dyed indigo cotton, The Plantarum’s selection of plants are good to go for Christmas day. Where you can get it: The Plantarum Ceramic Planter by Sophie Moran Created by: Sophie Moran Why we love it: If you’re shopping for someone with a great appreciation for the textured look and feel of pottery then Sophie Moran’s handcrafted ceramic pots are plant- and present-perfect. Working from a private studio in Collingwood, Melbourne, Sophie makes planters in simple, functional and timeless forms with a soft colour palette to complement the potted plant. Where you can get it: Modern Times 30:30 Landscape Architecture Created by: Meaghan Kombol Why we love it: For landscaping and design enthusiasts, 30:30 Landscape Architecture by Meaghan Kombol showcases contemporary landscape design from around the globe. 30 renowned and influential landscape architects explore the work of 30 next-generation landscape architects, divulging their inspirations and design processes and debating key issues. Where you can get it: Angus & Robertson Greenwall by SkALE Greenwall Created by: SkALE Greenwall Why we love it: Add a lot of lush greenery to a balcony or garden with a vertical garden or green wall. SkALE Greenwall’s easy-to-install system is made up of lots of individual pieces joined together for a customised size. Fill with herbs, succulents or plants to create a personally-tailored green wall. Where you can get it: Vertigro Case Study Cylinder Planter by Modernica Created by: Modernica Why we love it: Modernica’s Case Study Planter originated during the prolific design period of the 1950s and 60s and combines the modernist aesthetic with the notion that ‘good design’ should be available to all. A cylindrical ceramic pot nestles into an elegant wooded frame for a classic yet fresh addition to the home. Where you can get it: Top3 Haws 1L Watering Can Created by: Haws Why we love it: Handmade in the UK, Haws is the dedicated gardener’s watering can of choice. Made from galvanised sheet metal with a powder-coated finish (in sage, duckegg blue, cream, green and burgundy), Haws Watering Cans have an elegant design with curves in the all right the places. Where you can get it: The Potting Shed Tools abc Design Products Habitus Loves Habitus Loves… Melbourne Potters by Editorial Team 11 December Stillness Created by: Shiko Why we love it: Sophie Harle's work can be seen in many cafes around Melbourne. Inspired by the Japanese concept of mingei (the handcrafted art of ordinary people), her functional vessels are designed for everyday use – a quiet simplicity speaking through smooth, caress-worthy surfaces. Where you can get it: Shiko Playful Created by: Takeawei Why we love it: Chela Edmunds makes functional wheel-thrown tableware with a sense of humour. Cups are dappled with colourful hues inspired by nature, while finger-painted patterns add a definitive handmade touch to bowls and vessels. The fried egg brekky plate is on our wish list. Where you can get it: Takeawei From the earth Created by: Sarah Schembri Why we love it: Sarah's work sees wheel-thrown stoneware clay finished with a shino glaze to produce an earthy speckle. This ceramicist draws from Japanese traditions to make textural beakers, salad bowls, plates and the occasional spoon. Where you can get it: Sarah Schembri Quirk factor Created by: Jessilla Rogers Why we love it: This young potter handbuilds cups and plates in abstract, wonky shapes, which are then playfully painted in all manner of colours and the occasional dash of gold lustre. Possibly the most fun your makeshift chip 'n' dip bowl and plate could ever be. Where you can get it: Jessilla Rogers Blue Created by: La Petite Fabrique de Brunswick Why we love it: French-born emerging potter Lucile Sciallano creates slip-cast porcelain cups, bowls and platters from her studio in Brunswick. Marbling and milky-way patterns in her signature blue tones splay across fine forms – each stain unique to that particular vessel. Where you can get it: La Petite Fabrique de Brunswick Organic Created by: Bridget Bodenham Why we love it: Technically based in Daylesford, not Melbourne, this beloved earth bender shapes stoneware, raku and porcelain clays into delightfully tactile cups, spoons and plates. Motifs sway from gold speckles to handpainted indigo stripes, with the tones and textures of nature present in each collection. Where you can get it: Bridget Bodenham Double Dip Created by: Brooke Thorn Ceramics Why we love it: This interior designer turned ceramicist makes beautiful wheel-thrown and mould-cast functional tableware. From sweet side bowls to beakers and large platters, you can complete a single-hued set or mix-and-match your own colourways. Where you can get it: Brooke Thorn Ceramics abc Happenings What's On Human sculptures grace Hong Kong in Event Horizon by Andrew McDonald 10 December Conceived by British artist Antony Gormley, Event Horizon officially launched on November 19 and remind be a part of the Hong Kong cityscape until May 18, 2016. The most extensive public art installation ever seen in the city, Event Horizon brings Hong Kongers a chance to see their city in new and unique ways. The 31 sculptures have been installed at both street level and, quite strikingly, stop buildings across a kilometre wide zone of the city’s Central and Western district. “Event Horizon captures the particular time of a particular body: a subjective place,” says artist and creator Antony Gormley. “The principle dynamic of the work is the relationship between imagination and the horizon, involving the citizen in a game of seeking and perhaps finding. Beyond those figures that you can actually see, how many more are out of sight? Where is the meeting place of earth and sky? Event Horizon engages Hong Kongers in the desire to look up and look again at familiar places in a new way, inviting reflection on human nature and our place in the wider scheme of things.” Presented in collaboration between the British Council Hong Kong with support from partner K11 Art Foundation, Hong Kong is the first Asian city to stage the installation, which previously impressed viewers in London, Rotterdam, New York, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. For Hong Kong, Event Horizon is being complimented by an education and outreach program, which includes activities and support tools for students, teachers and interested public. Photography by Oak Taylor-Smith Event Horizon eventhorizon.hk abc Happenings What's On Alesandro Ljubicic and the Scent of Painting by Andrew McDonald 10 December Running from February 3 to 27, 2016 at Michael Reid Sydney, The Scent of Painting gallery exhibition will showcase a new, colourfully intense body of paintings. Physically immersive, the new gallery serves as Alesandro Ljubicic’s response to the beauty of nature, and envelops the viewer in playfully experimental hues. The gallery is a creative collaboration between Ljubicic himself, Sydney-based florist Mr. Cook, Brisbane-based perfumer Damask Perfumery and Scotland’s bespoke scarf manufacturer Kmossed. This sees Ljubicic inviting audiences on a multi-layered sensory experience through colour, aroma and texture. Ljubicic's talent in both the large and small scale still life floral worlds is revealed in full in The Scent of Painting, going so far as to closely work closely with floral designer Sean Cook in order to truly grasp the beauty of flowers. To compliment the new body of work, Ljubicic has also created a soecuak magnolia infused scent and a range of limited edition hand-made scarves. “In essence I am creating a multi-layered experience that provokes all the senses. This new body of work moves beyond the canvas to explore new creative forms that the audience can interact with in an intimate way,” explains Ljubicic. The exhibition itself will be encompassing the entirety of Michael Reid Sydney’s late-Victorian terrace building, with all of three exhibition spaces showcasing the creativity of all involved. Ljubicic comes to the art world following study at the National Art School in Sydney. Since graduating, his works have been featured in curated group shows around Australia, exhibited work at Sydney Contemporary Art Fair and in a series of solo shows in Sydney and Melbourne. Alesandro Ljubicic alesandroljubicic.com Michael Reid Sydney michaelreid.com.au abc Design Hunters The City of Sydney and kil.n.it moulding ceramic artists of tomorrow by Andrew McDonald 9 December The artists and teachers at kil.n.it have a new space containing six artists’ studios, a live and work apartment for visiting artists, a workshop and two kilns for hire. The space has been funded by an accommodation grant from the City of Sydney worth $100,000 over two years. Ultimately, kil.n.it aims to make ceramic arts more accessible for Sydneysiders and out of town visitors. This has the group kil.n.it offering opportunities for artists of all skill levels, and the ceramic curious, the chance to get dirty with the clay. The new hub at the City’s Nurses Quarters building on Glebe Point Road includes a comprehensive program of classes and educational programs for industry and local residents. Bookings for classes for adults and kids alike can be made on kil.n.it’s new website, launched in conjunction with the new space. “The aim is to provide affordable, accessible ceramic-making to artists and the broader community,” says director Bev Shroot. “kil.n.it has emerged as a response to the increasing popularity of ceramics as an artistic medium. We aim to provide ceramic studio space with an experimental approach.” As well as operating the space, kil.n.it also will also be managing a series of fixed-term artist tenancies at the site and the live/work apartment. This will provide an affordable residency program for visiting artists to better foster collaboration between emerging and established artists. kil.n.it kil-n-it.com abc Happenings What's On Art Month Sydney is back with fresh ideas 2016 by Andrew McDonald 9 December Running from March 1 to March 20, Art Month Sydney returns in 2016 with new Creative Director, Barry Keldoulis. The 2016 program has been inspired by the creative producers of Sydney and expands across the city to previously unused spaces and unexpected locations. Art Month Sydney will include exhibitions, talks, tours and experiences, not to mention the much‐loved Precinct Nights. The event will highlight the galleries, institutions, artist-run-initiatives, art schools, artists and curators that make up Sydney’s marketplace of art and ideas. “If we think of the city as an engine that drives creativity, what are the parts of the motor that move differently but in union to produce forward motion?” asks Barry, “It’s often said that artists aren’t artists because they want to be, but because they have to be. If it’s the artists’ creative juices that are the fuel, what, are the pistons that fire, the drive shafts that crank, and the wheels that turn to get this engine of creativity moving. Art Month 2016 throws the elemental pieces of that engine down in front of you, artists, art schools, studios, galleries, institutions, both “bricks and mortar and virtual”, collections private and public, for you to piece together how these form a working whole.” The annual Collectors’ Space will again celebrate private art collections, and in 2016 will be presented in an unoccupied inner city house. The space, which will be announced only weeks before the exhibition opens, will showcase works from the collections of Sally Dan‐ Cuthbert, Courtney Gibson, Danny Goldberg, and Jasper Knight. The domestic setting of the Collectors’ Space will offer a homely context not normally associated with public exhibitions Precinct Nights in Art Month Sydney 2016, and begins with a Mardi Gras‐inspired queer night in Eastern Sydney on March the 3rd. Queer performers will transform restaurants, bars and retail stores during the night, and Alaska Studios is hosting a queer cabaret in their untouched basement space. The full Art Month Sydney 2016 program will be announced early January 2016. Art Month Sydney artmonthsydney.com.au abc Architecture Homes Coastal Modernity by Editorial Team 9 December Principle architect, Simon Perkins together with principle interior designer, Kanako Nakanishi have created a striking home that captures the spirit of its surrounds. The dwelling includes a double garage, four bedrooms and a lounge, as well as an open plan kitchen, meals and living space that opens onto a lush green lawn and surrounding bushland. A long lineal roof plane caps the entire building, and a striking vertical timber screen protects the deck that extends the length of the northern exterior. Large full height black aluminium doors connect the living areas and master bedroom to the deck and garden beyond, allowing sunlight to drench the internal spaces. White oiled oak floors add a contemporary but rustic sensibility to the interior palette, as well as stainless steel and marble bench tops, oak joinery and a white mosaic tiled splash back. Photography by Hilary Bradford and Derek Swalwell Styling by Heather Nette King InForm informdesign.com.au abc ← Previous Page 1 2 3 4 5 Next Page → TOP
Design Hunters Conversations In Conversation: Catherine Roberts by Editorial Team 15 December Can you tell us about how your obsession with design began, and what career path led to establishing Showroom in Brisbane? About a year and a half ago I opened a concept store called Showroom. Showroom trades in beautiful, artisanal design wares gathered from makers and brands from here in Brisbane, across Australia, and around the world. It’s curated like a magazine, ever changing like a gallery, and of course we’re in the business of selling things like a shop. I came to Australia from Canada nearly five years ago in support of my partner’s career. I had no idea back then that it would be here in Brisbane that I would create a dream and a business of my own. I started blogging when I first moved to Australia almost five years ago having met my Brisbane-born husband when we were both living in England. Through taking photographs around my home and kitchen I discovered it wasn't possible to find the styling props I wanted here, like cast iron skillets and mason jars and kraft paper shipping tags. From there I started a little online store and a market stall. That went well so I opened a pop up shop for about a month, and that's what sparked the idea for Showroom. I’m a professional historian by training; I’m a lover of stories with a soft spot for nostalgia. Although history may seem like an unlikely background for a retail entrepreneur, researching and teaching about the past enhanced my natural curiosity and honed my inclination to seek meaning and connection in ideas, relationships and material objects. This is at the core of what I, and by extension my business, am about. When and how did the concept for Showroom come to you? Can you tell us about your business ethos? With a little experience as a blogger and a few seasons of running my own market stall and online shop under my belt, I decided to see what I could do about re-thinking bricks and mortar retail. Here’s what I find so fascinating about retail: It’s clear to me that in 2015, our consumer brains have been significantly rewired by the internet and social media. Consciously or unconsciously, we’re all more design literate, more selective, and our appetite for content has grown. We’re more interested in the stories that give objects meaning, and more invested in the notion that our possessions reflect and shape our identities. This has largely come about because of the way incredibly innovative brands have rewritten the rules of online retail over the past 10 years. But here in the real world, where we all still mostly live, the way stores operate has stayed pretty much the same, and we’re seeing the impact of that with vacant signs up and down our high streets. This is worrying, because I believe that traditional shop-fronts are essential gathering places that keep our neighbourhoods vibrant and connected. I also believe that it’s important for our communities culturally and economically that artists, artisans and local businesses can afford to work and thrive. You just moved into a new location. Can you tell us a little about that? Have your offerings changed? Curation and a strong point of view are paramount to Showroom's identity and success – this is something I’ve realised and prioritised in the new space. I have a clear sense of how I want the store to look and feel, and I seek out artisans, brands, and products that fit my vision. We're not to everyone's taste, certainly, but people who love what's presented in store and online love it in its totally, and that's what I'm going for. I make most decision about the editorial content of Showroom on the basis of what I personally like the stories behind the things. My style is quite paired back and referential. I love quality materials worked in an unfussy way. I love clean-lined, heritage designs that feel warm and modern. A simple Falcon enamel camping mug is my idea of design perfection both for its aesthetic qualities and all that it evokes. Of course there are lots of things being made in the Brisbane community and further afield that I really like or find interesting but don’t fit into the aesthetic point of view I’m cultivating at Showroom. In those instances I think it’s important to be super edited and unwavering. In the old shop I think I was more eclectic than I am in the city, and what we’re cultivating here has much greater impact. How would you describe your new space, and what is it about the space that makes it special and personal project for you? Do you have any favourite aspects of the space? I love the character of the new space best. The new shop has huge windows, soaring ceilings, wide floorboards, and crisp white painted brick walls. I didn't want to erect anything that would compete with the character of the building, so our fit-out is all about white painted shelving and simple trestle tables. Everything can be easily reconfigured to suit the mix of products in store at any one time. I love rearranging the shop and never leave things as they are long enough to get bored! Tell us about a typical day at Showroom? I’m not sure there’s any such thing as typical which is one of the things I like about this self-made gig as CEO and editor-in-chief of my little empire. Still, certain routines do punctuate my days. I don't set an alarm but tend to naturally wake up quite early. I always start my morning with a cup of builder's tea. I check in on social media. I check in with my team. Most days I head into the store to spend the day helping customers or crack on with behind the scenes projects from WORKROOM. If I'm feeling overwhelmed, which I often do in times like this when so many elements of the business are expanding, I try to work a bit more from home so I can concentrate, eat well, and make sure I take the time to rest. Where do you find inspiration? I'm Canadian and was raised between the city and the woods. I think if you look closely you can see that background in the mix of products I place in store. I do spend a lot of time following inspiring brands, stylists, and content creators on social media, but I find it’s equally important to step away from that and immerse yourself in art, photography, and film. I switch off to read personal essays and novels as much as I can. Showroom show-room.com.au abc Design Hunters Conversations Chelsea Hing on Kitchens and Bathrooms by Editorial Team 15 December What is a trend you can identify in bathroom design and what does it reflect in a cultural, economic, social or environmental sense? There are a few trends that represent a cultural shift in how clients treat the family bathroom. Double showers for two kids to shower together and a single elongated vanity basin for kids to brush their teeth or get ready at the same time are now design ideas commonly received very well. Gone are the days when kids just got the basics, we’re now also looking at functional bathroom spaces that meet the needs of the whole family, not just the adults. I think this is reflective of the broader social phenomenon of ‘busyness’. Even the kids have to be multitasked. How is Australian bathroom design conservative and in what ways is it becoming more adventurous? Australians are obsessed with being practical in the bathroom, which means that we often end up with spaces that are purely utilitarian without much in the way of aesthetics. Our bathrooms all tend to look the same. Big-mirrored cabinets with acres of storage over a long vanity are still the norm. It’s rare to get a timber floor through or a finish more at home in the French countryside that would create character like a rough brick wall. Instead, we’re still tiling all surfaces for easy cleaning and easy care but this has robbed us of the opportunity to create real personality in the bathroom. Australians are slowly embracing decorative lighting in the bathroom to create mood as well as having some fun in the powder room but we’ve got a long way to go if we want to create bathroom spaces that are a joy to hang out in and be truly restorative. What product in the bathroom can provide the greatest design impact? Nothing beats a great layout first and foremost with all those tricky junctions between showers, baths and toilets fully resolved. I think of design as a product that way – what can it deliver? Next is a beautiful palette of finishes with some incredible tiles and a vanity design fit for your living room [see Zuster’s Issy range for Reece below, taking furniture design into the bathroom]. Beautiful tapware and sanitary-ware that are a joy to use and clean is key. Natural light is the holy grail but often very difficult to incorporate in many bathroom spaces that are either landlocked or concerned with privacy [see the Binnie House image with round skylight over shower, below]. How can bathrooms respond better to environmental concerns through design? I’m always focused on how I can create a beautiful design that will stand the test of time, that’s how I think of sustainability. If you intend for something to exist for a long time, you are more than likely to resolve the design well and choose materials that are not fashionable or of the moment. We rip out far too many bathrooms that are not old but just haven’t been designed well. Then I think its selecting finishes that have a sustainable pedigree, I’m thinking of Mutina’s Tierras range by Patricia Urquiola [see below]. Where is bathroom design heading in the future? Tiles that breathe, multifunctional tapware integrated with accessories [see Agape Sen tapware, below], and beautiful baths for two that you can really enjoy [see Marcio Kogan bath, below]. Decorative elements like artwork, lighting and rugs will go a long way to softening hard bathroom spaces. Upping the ante on colour and personality will also slowly make their way into bathroom design [see the image of the green ceiling, below]. And for kitchens, the inclusion of a secret bar [see Binnie House with claret bar behind sliding door, below]. What is your favourite memory that takes place in the kitchen? My mum chopping up hot barbecued pork bought from Chinatown and stealing bits off the side of the chopping block. What is the most important item or product in your kitchen and why? My Louis Poulsen Panthella table lamp. It gives my kitchen personality as well as much-needed task lighting. I leave it on every night for the warm glow after the kitchen has closed down for the night. Adding decorative features into kitchens and bathrooms to soften them is key. What are the three things you always have in your refrigerator? Three things that are a staple in my fridge are full cream milk, parmesan cheese and eggs, you can whip up quite a few things with these three. What's your favourite cooking aroma? Onions and garlic cooking off, it’s often the start of something. What's your least favourite kitchen chore? Cleaning the oven, biggest mistake I made not getting a pyrolytic oven. Chelsea Hing chelseahing.comabc Happenings What's On Dates and new highlights announced for Melbourne Indesign 2016 by Editorial Team 14 December Melbourne Indesign 2016 will be an immersive, highly-curated design experience, brought to you by Indesign Media Asia Pacific. Whilst maintaining all the features of Indesign: The Event that people have come to love, Melbourne Indesign 2016 will also offer a host of new features for visitors and exhibitors. A renewed curatorial approach will see each of the three precincts (Collingwood, Melbourne CBD and Richmond) boast a unique identity. These identities will be reflected within pop-up spaces, transformed showrooms and design trails, available to architects, designers and specifiers, exclusively during Melbourne Indesign. Visitors can also expect fantastic installations, game-changing talks and a true immersion in the design life of the city. The Project, a crowd-pulling injection of creativity, will also return in 2016, benefiting from this curatorial approach. Each precinct will have its own unique Project theme, ensuring diversity and excitement in the collaborations. With 2015’s projects including everything from a colourful and child-like ball pit to a live dance presentation, The Project keeps getting better and better. Our seminar series will also be returning by popular demand, with topics announced early next year. In 2015 the seminars were a stunning success, with incredible panellists from around the world and insightful and accessible topics. When: Friday 12th and Saturday 13th August 2016. Where: Collingwood, Melbourne CBD and Richmond Cost: As always Melbourne Indesign will be free to attend, with guests receiving plenty of bonuses for attending. In 2015 tens of thousands of dollars worth of prizes were given away. Reach: 7,500 visitors / 45,510 total audience For more information visit: melbourneindesign.com.au facebook.com/indesigntheeventabc Design Products Habitus Loves Habitus Loves… Gift Ideas for Plant Lovers by Editorial Team 14 December Indoor Green: Living With Plants Created by: Bree Claffey Why we love it: Indoor Green: Living With Plants is a beautiful hardback coffee table book that takes readers through plant-filled homes, studios and shops. Authored by Mr Kitly’s Bree Claffey with photography by Lauren Bamford, Indoor Green is packed with extensive knowledge, inspirational finds and practical advice. Post-Christmas, readers will certainly be visiting their local plant shop with creative ideas for greening their abode. Where you can get it: Mr Kitly Tetrus Hanging Planter by MRD Home Created by: MRD Home Why we love it: Not since the 1970s have hanging houseplants been so popular, freeing up floor and surface space and adding luscious green touches all around a room. MRD Home’s planter combines the raw, refined beauty and simplicity of concrete with blush leather and will look beautiful with Devil's Ivy (Golden Pothos / Epipremnum aureum) curling around its straps and draping over the edges. Where you can get it: Mint Interior Design Selfwatering Plant Pot by Mr Kitly x Decor Created by: Richard Carlson Why we love it: Richard Carlson’s 1980s classic of the plant world is back with thanks to Mr Kitly in collaboration with Decor. The self-watering plant pot is simple to use and will tempt all those dabbling with indoor plants: just add water from above for the first few days then top up via the water well below as needed. The minimalist plastic pots are available in four colours. Where you can get it: Mr Kitly Daisy Plant Stand by Ivy Muse Created by: Jacqui Vidal and Alana Langan Why we love it: Jacqui Vidal and Alana Langan are the long-time friends behind Ivy Muse, designing beautiful plant stands made locally in Melbourne. The Daisy plant stand is part of their Calypso collection, which features striking shapes, patterns and colours. Set a Hoya Heuschkeliana in the top and its beautiful leaves will trail down the side. Where you can get it: Ivy Muse Gardening Tools by Grafa Created by: Travis Blandford Why we love it: Based in Melbourne’s inner west, Grafa’s Travis Blandford handcrafts a distinctive range of gardening tools in new and recycled copper, bronze and timber. In materials beneficial for the soil and designed to connect hand and earth, Grafa tools will serve both gardens and gardeners well for many years to come. Where you can get it: Grafa A plant from The Plantarum Created by: Sonia Killmore Why we love it: A plant is a gift that keeps on giving adding colour and life to a home as well as improving air quality and plant-owners’ moods. The Plantarum offers a bespoke plant-oriented service with lots of “easy-going plants” to choose from. Wrapped with natural hand dyed indigo cotton, The Plantarum’s selection of plants are good to go for Christmas day. Where you can get it: The Plantarum Ceramic Planter by Sophie Moran Created by: Sophie Moran Why we love it: If you’re shopping for someone with a great appreciation for the textured look and feel of pottery then Sophie Moran’s handcrafted ceramic pots are plant- and present-perfect. Working from a private studio in Collingwood, Melbourne, Sophie makes planters in simple, functional and timeless forms with a soft colour palette to complement the potted plant. Where you can get it: Modern Times 30:30 Landscape Architecture Created by: Meaghan Kombol Why we love it: For landscaping and design enthusiasts, 30:30 Landscape Architecture by Meaghan Kombol showcases contemporary landscape design from around the globe. 30 renowned and influential landscape architects explore the work of 30 next-generation landscape architects, divulging their inspirations and design processes and debating key issues. Where you can get it: Angus & Robertson Greenwall by SkALE Greenwall Created by: SkALE Greenwall Why we love it: Add a lot of lush greenery to a balcony or garden with a vertical garden or green wall. SkALE Greenwall’s easy-to-install system is made up of lots of individual pieces joined together for a customised size. Fill with herbs, succulents or plants to create a personally-tailored green wall. Where you can get it: Vertigro Case Study Cylinder Planter by Modernica Created by: Modernica Why we love it: Modernica’s Case Study Planter originated during the prolific design period of the 1950s and 60s and combines the modernist aesthetic with the notion that ‘good design’ should be available to all. A cylindrical ceramic pot nestles into an elegant wooded frame for a classic yet fresh addition to the home. Where you can get it: Top3 Haws 1L Watering Can Created by: Haws Why we love it: Handmade in the UK, Haws is the dedicated gardener’s watering can of choice. Made from galvanised sheet metal with a powder-coated finish (in sage, duckegg blue, cream, green and burgundy), Haws Watering Cans have an elegant design with curves in the all right the places. Where you can get it: The Potting Shed Tools abc Design Products Habitus Loves Habitus Loves… Melbourne Potters by Editorial Team 11 December Stillness Created by: Shiko Why we love it: Sophie Harle's work can be seen in many cafes around Melbourne. Inspired by the Japanese concept of mingei (the handcrafted art of ordinary people), her functional vessels are designed for everyday use – a quiet simplicity speaking through smooth, caress-worthy surfaces. Where you can get it: Shiko Playful Created by: Takeawei Why we love it: Chela Edmunds makes functional wheel-thrown tableware with a sense of humour. Cups are dappled with colourful hues inspired by nature, while finger-painted patterns add a definitive handmade touch to bowls and vessels. The fried egg brekky plate is on our wish list. Where you can get it: Takeawei From the earth Created by: Sarah Schembri Why we love it: Sarah's work sees wheel-thrown stoneware clay finished with a shino glaze to produce an earthy speckle. This ceramicist draws from Japanese traditions to make textural beakers, salad bowls, plates and the occasional spoon. Where you can get it: Sarah Schembri Quirk factor Created by: Jessilla Rogers Why we love it: This young potter handbuilds cups and plates in abstract, wonky shapes, which are then playfully painted in all manner of colours and the occasional dash of gold lustre. Possibly the most fun your makeshift chip 'n' dip bowl and plate could ever be. Where you can get it: Jessilla Rogers Blue Created by: La Petite Fabrique de Brunswick Why we love it: French-born emerging potter Lucile Sciallano creates slip-cast porcelain cups, bowls and platters from her studio in Brunswick. Marbling and milky-way patterns in her signature blue tones splay across fine forms – each stain unique to that particular vessel. Where you can get it: La Petite Fabrique de Brunswick Organic Created by: Bridget Bodenham Why we love it: Technically based in Daylesford, not Melbourne, this beloved earth bender shapes stoneware, raku and porcelain clays into delightfully tactile cups, spoons and plates. Motifs sway from gold speckles to handpainted indigo stripes, with the tones and textures of nature present in each collection. Where you can get it: Bridget Bodenham Double Dip Created by: Brooke Thorn Ceramics Why we love it: This interior designer turned ceramicist makes beautiful wheel-thrown and mould-cast functional tableware. From sweet side bowls to beakers and large platters, you can complete a single-hued set or mix-and-match your own colourways. Where you can get it: Brooke Thorn Ceramics abc Happenings What's On Human sculptures grace Hong Kong in Event Horizon by Andrew McDonald 10 December Conceived by British artist Antony Gormley, Event Horizon officially launched on November 19 and remind be a part of the Hong Kong cityscape until May 18, 2016. The most extensive public art installation ever seen in the city, Event Horizon brings Hong Kongers a chance to see their city in new and unique ways. The 31 sculptures have been installed at both street level and, quite strikingly, stop buildings across a kilometre wide zone of the city’s Central and Western district. “Event Horizon captures the particular time of a particular body: a subjective place,” says artist and creator Antony Gormley. “The principle dynamic of the work is the relationship between imagination and the horizon, involving the citizen in a game of seeking and perhaps finding. Beyond those figures that you can actually see, how many more are out of sight? Where is the meeting place of earth and sky? Event Horizon engages Hong Kongers in the desire to look up and look again at familiar places in a new way, inviting reflection on human nature and our place in the wider scheme of things.” Presented in collaboration between the British Council Hong Kong with support from partner K11 Art Foundation, Hong Kong is the first Asian city to stage the installation, which previously impressed viewers in London, Rotterdam, New York, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. For Hong Kong, Event Horizon is being complimented by an education and outreach program, which includes activities and support tools for students, teachers and interested public. Photography by Oak Taylor-Smith Event Horizon eventhorizon.hk abc Happenings What's On Alesandro Ljubicic and the Scent of Painting by Andrew McDonald 10 December Running from February 3 to 27, 2016 at Michael Reid Sydney, The Scent of Painting gallery exhibition will showcase a new, colourfully intense body of paintings. Physically immersive, the new gallery serves as Alesandro Ljubicic’s response to the beauty of nature, and envelops the viewer in playfully experimental hues. The gallery is a creative collaboration between Ljubicic himself, Sydney-based florist Mr. Cook, Brisbane-based perfumer Damask Perfumery and Scotland’s bespoke scarf manufacturer Kmossed. This sees Ljubicic inviting audiences on a multi-layered sensory experience through colour, aroma and texture. Ljubicic's talent in both the large and small scale still life floral worlds is revealed in full in The Scent of Painting, going so far as to closely work closely with floral designer Sean Cook in order to truly grasp the beauty of flowers. To compliment the new body of work, Ljubicic has also created a soecuak magnolia infused scent and a range of limited edition hand-made scarves. “In essence I am creating a multi-layered experience that provokes all the senses. This new body of work moves beyond the canvas to explore new creative forms that the audience can interact with in an intimate way,” explains Ljubicic. The exhibition itself will be encompassing the entirety of Michael Reid Sydney’s late-Victorian terrace building, with all of three exhibition spaces showcasing the creativity of all involved. Ljubicic comes to the art world following study at the National Art School in Sydney. Since graduating, his works have been featured in curated group shows around Australia, exhibited work at Sydney Contemporary Art Fair and in a series of solo shows in Sydney and Melbourne. Alesandro Ljubicic alesandroljubicic.com Michael Reid Sydney michaelreid.com.au abc Design Hunters The City of Sydney and kil.n.it moulding ceramic artists of tomorrow by Andrew McDonald 9 December The artists and teachers at kil.n.it have a new space containing six artists’ studios, a live and work apartment for visiting artists, a workshop and two kilns for hire. The space has been funded by an accommodation grant from the City of Sydney worth $100,000 over two years. Ultimately, kil.n.it aims to make ceramic arts more accessible for Sydneysiders and out of town visitors. This has the group kil.n.it offering opportunities for artists of all skill levels, and the ceramic curious, the chance to get dirty with the clay. The new hub at the City’s Nurses Quarters building on Glebe Point Road includes a comprehensive program of classes and educational programs for industry and local residents. Bookings for classes for adults and kids alike can be made on kil.n.it’s new website, launched in conjunction with the new space. “The aim is to provide affordable, accessible ceramic-making to artists and the broader community,” says director Bev Shroot. “kil.n.it has emerged as a response to the increasing popularity of ceramics as an artistic medium. We aim to provide ceramic studio space with an experimental approach.” As well as operating the space, kil.n.it also will also be managing a series of fixed-term artist tenancies at the site and the live/work apartment. This will provide an affordable residency program for visiting artists to better foster collaboration between emerging and established artists. kil.n.it kil-n-it.com abc Happenings What's On Art Month Sydney is back with fresh ideas 2016 by Andrew McDonald 9 December Running from March 1 to March 20, Art Month Sydney returns in 2016 with new Creative Director, Barry Keldoulis. The 2016 program has been inspired by the creative producers of Sydney and expands across the city to previously unused spaces and unexpected locations. Art Month Sydney will include exhibitions, talks, tours and experiences, not to mention the much‐loved Precinct Nights. The event will highlight the galleries, institutions, artist-run-initiatives, art schools, artists and curators that make up Sydney’s marketplace of art and ideas. “If we think of the city as an engine that drives creativity, what are the parts of the motor that move differently but in union to produce forward motion?” asks Barry, “It’s often said that artists aren’t artists because they want to be, but because they have to be. If it’s the artists’ creative juices that are the fuel, what, are the pistons that fire, the drive shafts that crank, and the wheels that turn to get this engine of creativity moving. Art Month 2016 throws the elemental pieces of that engine down in front of you, artists, art schools, studios, galleries, institutions, both “bricks and mortar and virtual”, collections private and public, for you to piece together how these form a working whole.” The annual Collectors’ Space will again celebrate private art collections, and in 2016 will be presented in an unoccupied inner city house. The space, which will be announced only weeks before the exhibition opens, will showcase works from the collections of Sally Dan‐ Cuthbert, Courtney Gibson, Danny Goldberg, and Jasper Knight. The domestic setting of the Collectors’ Space will offer a homely context not normally associated with public exhibitions Precinct Nights in Art Month Sydney 2016, and begins with a Mardi Gras‐inspired queer night in Eastern Sydney on March the 3rd. Queer performers will transform restaurants, bars and retail stores during the night, and Alaska Studios is hosting a queer cabaret in their untouched basement space. The full Art Month Sydney 2016 program will be announced early January 2016. Art Month Sydney artmonthsydney.com.au abc Architecture Homes Coastal Modernity by Editorial Team 9 December Principle architect, Simon Perkins together with principle interior designer, Kanako Nakanishi have created a striking home that captures the spirit of its surrounds. The dwelling includes a double garage, four bedrooms and a lounge, as well as an open plan kitchen, meals and living space that opens onto a lush green lawn and surrounding bushland. A long lineal roof plane caps the entire building, and a striking vertical timber screen protects the deck that extends the length of the northern exterior. Large full height black aluminium doors connect the living areas and master bedroom to the deck and garden beyond, allowing sunlight to drench the internal spaces. White oiled oak floors add a contemporary but rustic sensibility to the interior palette, as well as stainless steel and marble bench tops, oak joinery and a white mosaic tiled splash back. Photography by Hilary Bradford and Derek Swalwell Styling by Heather Nette King InForm informdesign.com.au abc ← Previous Page 1 2 3 4 5 Next Page → TOP
Design Hunters Conversations Chelsea Hing on Kitchens and Bathrooms by Editorial Team 15 December What is a trend you can identify in bathroom design and what does it reflect in a cultural, economic, social or environmental sense? There are a few trends that represent a cultural shift in how clients treat the family bathroom. Double showers for two kids to shower together and a single elongated vanity basin for kids to brush their teeth or get ready at the same time are now design ideas commonly received very well. Gone are the days when kids just got the basics, we’re now also looking at functional bathroom spaces that meet the needs of the whole family, not just the adults. I think this is reflective of the broader social phenomenon of ‘busyness’. Even the kids have to be multitasked. How is Australian bathroom design conservative and in what ways is it becoming more adventurous? Australians are obsessed with being practical in the bathroom, which means that we often end up with spaces that are purely utilitarian without much in the way of aesthetics. Our bathrooms all tend to look the same. Big-mirrored cabinets with acres of storage over a long vanity are still the norm. It’s rare to get a timber floor through or a finish more at home in the French countryside that would create character like a rough brick wall. Instead, we’re still tiling all surfaces for easy cleaning and easy care but this has robbed us of the opportunity to create real personality in the bathroom. Australians are slowly embracing decorative lighting in the bathroom to create mood as well as having some fun in the powder room but we’ve got a long way to go if we want to create bathroom spaces that are a joy to hang out in and be truly restorative. What product in the bathroom can provide the greatest design impact? Nothing beats a great layout first and foremost with all those tricky junctions between showers, baths and toilets fully resolved. I think of design as a product that way – what can it deliver? Next is a beautiful palette of finishes with some incredible tiles and a vanity design fit for your living room [see Zuster’s Issy range for Reece below, taking furniture design into the bathroom]. Beautiful tapware and sanitary-ware that are a joy to use and clean is key. Natural light is the holy grail but often very difficult to incorporate in many bathroom spaces that are either landlocked or concerned with privacy [see the Binnie House image with round skylight over shower, below]. How can bathrooms respond better to environmental concerns through design? I’m always focused on how I can create a beautiful design that will stand the test of time, that’s how I think of sustainability. If you intend for something to exist for a long time, you are more than likely to resolve the design well and choose materials that are not fashionable or of the moment. We rip out far too many bathrooms that are not old but just haven’t been designed well. Then I think its selecting finishes that have a sustainable pedigree, I’m thinking of Mutina’s Tierras range by Patricia Urquiola [see below]. Where is bathroom design heading in the future? Tiles that breathe, multifunctional tapware integrated with accessories [see Agape Sen tapware, below], and beautiful baths for two that you can really enjoy [see Marcio Kogan bath, below]. Decorative elements like artwork, lighting and rugs will go a long way to softening hard bathroom spaces. Upping the ante on colour and personality will also slowly make their way into bathroom design [see the image of the green ceiling, below]. And for kitchens, the inclusion of a secret bar [see Binnie House with claret bar behind sliding door, below]. What is your favourite memory that takes place in the kitchen? My mum chopping up hot barbecued pork bought from Chinatown and stealing bits off the side of the chopping block. What is the most important item or product in your kitchen and why? My Louis Poulsen Panthella table lamp. It gives my kitchen personality as well as much-needed task lighting. I leave it on every night for the warm glow after the kitchen has closed down for the night. Adding decorative features into kitchens and bathrooms to soften them is key. What are the three things you always have in your refrigerator? Three things that are a staple in my fridge are full cream milk, parmesan cheese and eggs, you can whip up quite a few things with these three. What's your favourite cooking aroma? Onions and garlic cooking off, it’s often the start of something. What's your least favourite kitchen chore? Cleaning the oven, biggest mistake I made not getting a pyrolytic oven. Chelsea Hing chelseahing.comabc Happenings What's On Dates and new highlights announced for Melbourne Indesign 2016 by Editorial Team 14 December Melbourne Indesign 2016 will be an immersive, highly-curated design experience, brought to you by Indesign Media Asia Pacific. Whilst maintaining all the features of Indesign: The Event that people have come to love, Melbourne Indesign 2016 will also offer a host of new features for visitors and exhibitors. A renewed curatorial approach will see each of the three precincts (Collingwood, Melbourne CBD and Richmond) boast a unique identity. These identities will be reflected within pop-up spaces, transformed showrooms and design trails, available to architects, designers and specifiers, exclusively during Melbourne Indesign. Visitors can also expect fantastic installations, game-changing talks and a true immersion in the design life of the city. The Project, a crowd-pulling injection of creativity, will also return in 2016, benefiting from this curatorial approach. Each precinct will have its own unique Project theme, ensuring diversity and excitement in the collaborations. With 2015’s projects including everything from a colourful and child-like ball pit to a live dance presentation, The Project keeps getting better and better. Our seminar series will also be returning by popular demand, with topics announced early next year. In 2015 the seminars were a stunning success, with incredible panellists from around the world and insightful and accessible topics. When: Friday 12th and Saturday 13th August 2016. Where: Collingwood, Melbourne CBD and Richmond Cost: As always Melbourne Indesign will be free to attend, with guests receiving plenty of bonuses for attending. In 2015 tens of thousands of dollars worth of prizes were given away. Reach: 7,500 visitors / 45,510 total audience For more information visit: melbourneindesign.com.au facebook.com/indesigntheeventabc Design Products Habitus Loves Habitus Loves… Gift Ideas for Plant Lovers by Editorial Team 14 December Indoor Green: Living With Plants Created by: Bree Claffey Why we love it: Indoor Green: Living With Plants is a beautiful hardback coffee table book that takes readers through plant-filled homes, studios and shops. Authored by Mr Kitly’s Bree Claffey with photography by Lauren Bamford, Indoor Green is packed with extensive knowledge, inspirational finds and practical advice. Post-Christmas, readers will certainly be visiting their local plant shop with creative ideas for greening their abode. Where you can get it: Mr Kitly Tetrus Hanging Planter by MRD Home Created by: MRD Home Why we love it: Not since the 1970s have hanging houseplants been so popular, freeing up floor and surface space and adding luscious green touches all around a room. MRD Home’s planter combines the raw, refined beauty and simplicity of concrete with blush leather and will look beautiful with Devil's Ivy (Golden Pothos / Epipremnum aureum) curling around its straps and draping over the edges. Where you can get it: Mint Interior Design Selfwatering Plant Pot by Mr Kitly x Decor Created by: Richard Carlson Why we love it: Richard Carlson’s 1980s classic of the plant world is back with thanks to Mr Kitly in collaboration with Decor. The self-watering plant pot is simple to use and will tempt all those dabbling with indoor plants: just add water from above for the first few days then top up via the water well below as needed. The minimalist plastic pots are available in four colours. Where you can get it: Mr Kitly Daisy Plant Stand by Ivy Muse Created by: Jacqui Vidal and Alana Langan Why we love it: Jacqui Vidal and Alana Langan are the long-time friends behind Ivy Muse, designing beautiful plant stands made locally in Melbourne. The Daisy plant stand is part of their Calypso collection, which features striking shapes, patterns and colours. Set a Hoya Heuschkeliana in the top and its beautiful leaves will trail down the side. Where you can get it: Ivy Muse Gardening Tools by Grafa Created by: Travis Blandford Why we love it: Based in Melbourne’s inner west, Grafa’s Travis Blandford handcrafts a distinctive range of gardening tools in new and recycled copper, bronze and timber. In materials beneficial for the soil and designed to connect hand and earth, Grafa tools will serve both gardens and gardeners well for many years to come. Where you can get it: Grafa A plant from The Plantarum Created by: Sonia Killmore Why we love it: A plant is a gift that keeps on giving adding colour and life to a home as well as improving air quality and plant-owners’ moods. The Plantarum offers a bespoke plant-oriented service with lots of “easy-going plants” to choose from. Wrapped with natural hand dyed indigo cotton, The Plantarum’s selection of plants are good to go for Christmas day. Where you can get it: The Plantarum Ceramic Planter by Sophie Moran Created by: Sophie Moran Why we love it: If you’re shopping for someone with a great appreciation for the textured look and feel of pottery then Sophie Moran’s handcrafted ceramic pots are plant- and present-perfect. Working from a private studio in Collingwood, Melbourne, Sophie makes planters in simple, functional and timeless forms with a soft colour palette to complement the potted plant. Where you can get it: Modern Times 30:30 Landscape Architecture Created by: Meaghan Kombol Why we love it: For landscaping and design enthusiasts, 30:30 Landscape Architecture by Meaghan Kombol showcases contemporary landscape design from around the globe. 30 renowned and influential landscape architects explore the work of 30 next-generation landscape architects, divulging their inspirations and design processes and debating key issues. Where you can get it: Angus & Robertson Greenwall by SkALE Greenwall Created by: SkALE Greenwall Why we love it: Add a lot of lush greenery to a balcony or garden with a vertical garden or green wall. SkALE Greenwall’s easy-to-install system is made up of lots of individual pieces joined together for a customised size. Fill with herbs, succulents or plants to create a personally-tailored green wall. Where you can get it: Vertigro Case Study Cylinder Planter by Modernica Created by: Modernica Why we love it: Modernica’s Case Study Planter originated during the prolific design period of the 1950s and 60s and combines the modernist aesthetic with the notion that ‘good design’ should be available to all. A cylindrical ceramic pot nestles into an elegant wooded frame for a classic yet fresh addition to the home. Where you can get it: Top3 Haws 1L Watering Can Created by: Haws Why we love it: Handmade in the UK, Haws is the dedicated gardener’s watering can of choice. Made from galvanised sheet metal with a powder-coated finish (in sage, duckegg blue, cream, green and burgundy), Haws Watering Cans have an elegant design with curves in the all right the places. Where you can get it: The Potting Shed Tools abc Design Products Habitus Loves Habitus Loves… Melbourne Potters by Editorial Team 11 December Stillness Created by: Shiko Why we love it: Sophie Harle's work can be seen in many cafes around Melbourne. Inspired by the Japanese concept of mingei (the handcrafted art of ordinary people), her functional vessels are designed for everyday use – a quiet simplicity speaking through smooth, caress-worthy surfaces. Where you can get it: Shiko Playful Created by: Takeawei Why we love it: Chela Edmunds makes functional wheel-thrown tableware with a sense of humour. Cups are dappled with colourful hues inspired by nature, while finger-painted patterns add a definitive handmade touch to bowls and vessels. The fried egg brekky plate is on our wish list. Where you can get it: Takeawei From the earth Created by: Sarah Schembri Why we love it: Sarah's work sees wheel-thrown stoneware clay finished with a shino glaze to produce an earthy speckle. This ceramicist draws from Japanese traditions to make textural beakers, salad bowls, plates and the occasional spoon. Where you can get it: Sarah Schembri Quirk factor Created by: Jessilla Rogers Why we love it: This young potter handbuilds cups and plates in abstract, wonky shapes, which are then playfully painted in all manner of colours and the occasional dash of gold lustre. Possibly the most fun your makeshift chip 'n' dip bowl and plate could ever be. Where you can get it: Jessilla Rogers Blue Created by: La Petite Fabrique de Brunswick Why we love it: French-born emerging potter Lucile Sciallano creates slip-cast porcelain cups, bowls and platters from her studio in Brunswick. Marbling and milky-way patterns in her signature blue tones splay across fine forms – each stain unique to that particular vessel. Where you can get it: La Petite Fabrique de Brunswick Organic Created by: Bridget Bodenham Why we love it: Technically based in Daylesford, not Melbourne, this beloved earth bender shapes stoneware, raku and porcelain clays into delightfully tactile cups, spoons and plates. Motifs sway from gold speckles to handpainted indigo stripes, with the tones and textures of nature present in each collection. Where you can get it: Bridget Bodenham Double Dip Created by: Brooke Thorn Ceramics Why we love it: This interior designer turned ceramicist makes beautiful wheel-thrown and mould-cast functional tableware. From sweet side bowls to beakers and large platters, you can complete a single-hued set or mix-and-match your own colourways. Where you can get it: Brooke Thorn Ceramics abc Happenings What's On Human sculptures grace Hong Kong in Event Horizon by Andrew McDonald 10 December Conceived by British artist Antony Gormley, Event Horizon officially launched on November 19 and remind be a part of the Hong Kong cityscape until May 18, 2016. The most extensive public art installation ever seen in the city, Event Horizon brings Hong Kongers a chance to see their city in new and unique ways. The 31 sculptures have been installed at both street level and, quite strikingly, stop buildings across a kilometre wide zone of the city’s Central and Western district. “Event Horizon captures the particular time of a particular body: a subjective place,” says artist and creator Antony Gormley. “The principle dynamic of the work is the relationship between imagination and the horizon, involving the citizen in a game of seeking and perhaps finding. Beyond those figures that you can actually see, how many more are out of sight? Where is the meeting place of earth and sky? Event Horizon engages Hong Kongers in the desire to look up and look again at familiar places in a new way, inviting reflection on human nature and our place in the wider scheme of things.” Presented in collaboration between the British Council Hong Kong with support from partner K11 Art Foundation, Hong Kong is the first Asian city to stage the installation, which previously impressed viewers in London, Rotterdam, New York, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. For Hong Kong, Event Horizon is being complimented by an education and outreach program, which includes activities and support tools for students, teachers and interested public. Photography by Oak Taylor-Smith Event Horizon eventhorizon.hk abc Happenings What's On Alesandro Ljubicic and the Scent of Painting by Andrew McDonald 10 December Running from February 3 to 27, 2016 at Michael Reid Sydney, The Scent of Painting gallery exhibition will showcase a new, colourfully intense body of paintings. Physically immersive, the new gallery serves as Alesandro Ljubicic’s response to the beauty of nature, and envelops the viewer in playfully experimental hues. The gallery is a creative collaboration between Ljubicic himself, Sydney-based florist Mr. Cook, Brisbane-based perfumer Damask Perfumery and Scotland’s bespoke scarf manufacturer Kmossed. This sees Ljubicic inviting audiences on a multi-layered sensory experience through colour, aroma and texture. Ljubicic's talent in both the large and small scale still life floral worlds is revealed in full in The Scent of Painting, going so far as to closely work closely with floral designer Sean Cook in order to truly grasp the beauty of flowers. To compliment the new body of work, Ljubicic has also created a soecuak magnolia infused scent and a range of limited edition hand-made scarves. “In essence I am creating a multi-layered experience that provokes all the senses. This new body of work moves beyond the canvas to explore new creative forms that the audience can interact with in an intimate way,” explains Ljubicic. The exhibition itself will be encompassing the entirety of Michael Reid Sydney’s late-Victorian terrace building, with all of three exhibition spaces showcasing the creativity of all involved. Ljubicic comes to the art world following study at the National Art School in Sydney. Since graduating, his works have been featured in curated group shows around Australia, exhibited work at Sydney Contemporary Art Fair and in a series of solo shows in Sydney and Melbourne. Alesandro Ljubicic alesandroljubicic.com Michael Reid Sydney michaelreid.com.au abc Design Hunters The City of Sydney and kil.n.it moulding ceramic artists of tomorrow by Andrew McDonald 9 December The artists and teachers at kil.n.it have a new space containing six artists’ studios, a live and work apartment for visiting artists, a workshop and two kilns for hire. The space has been funded by an accommodation grant from the City of Sydney worth $100,000 over two years. Ultimately, kil.n.it aims to make ceramic arts more accessible for Sydneysiders and out of town visitors. This has the group kil.n.it offering opportunities for artists of all skill levels, and the ceramic curious, the chance to get dirty with the clay. The new hub at the City’s Nurses Quarters building on Glebe Point Road includes a comprehensive program of classes and educational programs for industry and local residents. Bookings for classes for adults and kids alike can be made on kil.n.it’s new website, launched in conjunction with the new space. “The aim is to provide affordable, accessible ceramic-making to artists and the broader community,” says director Bev Shroot. “kil.n.it has emerged as a response to the increasing popularity of ceramics as an artistic medium. We aim to provide ceramic studio space with an experimental approach.” As well as operating the space, kil.n.it also will also be managing a series of fixed-term artist tenancies at the site and the live/work apartment. This will provide an affordable residency program for visiting artists to better foster collaboration between emerging and established artists. kil.n.it kil-n-it.com abc Happenings What's On Art Month Sydney is back with fresh ideas 2016 by Andrew McDonald 9 December Running from March 1 to March 20, Art Month Sydney returns in 2016 with new Creative Director, Barry Keldoulis. The 2016 program has been inspired by the creative producers of Sydney and expands across the city to previously unused spaces and unexpected locations. Art Month Sydney will include exhibitions, talks, tours and experiences, not to mention the much‐loved Precinct Nights. The event will highlight the galleries, institutions, artist-run-initiatives, art schools, artists and curators that make up Sydney’s marketplace of art and ideas. “If we think of the city as an engine that drives creativity, what are the parts of the motor that move differently but in union to produce forward motion?” asks Barry, “It’s often said that artists aren’t artists because they want to be, but because they have to be. If it’s the artists’ creative juices that are the fuel, what, are the pistons that fire, the drive shafts that crank, and the wheels that turn to get this engine of creativity moving. Art Month 2016 throws the elemental pieces of that engine down in front of you, artists, art schools, studios, galleries, institutions, both “bricks and mortar and virtual”, collections private and public, for you to piece together how these form a working whole.” The annual Collectors’ Space will again celebrate private art collections, and in 2016 will be presented in an unoccupied inner city house. The space, which will be announced only weeks before the exhibition opens, will showcase works from the collections of Sally Dan‐ Cuthbert, Courtney Gibson, Danny Goldberg, and Jasper Knight. The domestic setting of the Collectors’ Space will offer a homely context not normally associated with public exhibitions Precinct Nights in Art Month Sydney 2016, and begins with a Mardi Gras‐inspired queer night in Eastern Sydney on March the 3rd. Queer performers will transform restaurants, bars and retail stores during the night, and Alaska Studios is hosting a queer cabaret in their untouched basement space. The full Art Month Sydney 2016 program will be announced early January 2016. Art Month Sydney artmonthsydney.com.au abc Architecture Homes Coastal Modernity by Editorial Team 9 December Principle architect, Simon Perkins together with principle interior designer, Kanako Nakanishi have created a striking home that captures the spirit of its surrounds. The dwelling includes a double garage, four bedrooms and a lounge, as well as an open plan kitchen, meals and living space that opens onto a lush green lawn and surrounding bushland. A long lineal roof plane caps the entire building, and a striking vertical timber screen protects the deck that extends the length of the northern exterior. Large full height black aluminium doors connect the living areas and master bedroom to the deck and garden beyond, allowing sunlight to drench the internal spaces. White oiled oak floors add a contemporary but rustic sensibility to the interior palette, as well as stainless steel and marble bench tops, oak joinery and a white mosaic tiled splash back. Photography by Hilary Bradford and Derek Swalwell Styling by Heather Nette King InForm informdesign.com.au abc ← Previous Page 1 2 3 4 5 Next Page → TOP
Happenings What's On Dates and new highlights announced for Melbourne Indesign 2016 by Editorial Team 14 December Melbourne Indesign 2016 will be an immersive, highly-curated design experience, brought to you by Indesign Media Asia Pacific. Whilst maintaining all the features of Indesign: The Event that people have come to love, Melbourne Indesign 2016 will also offer a host of new features for visitors and exhibitors. A renewed curatorial approach will see each of the three precincts (Collingwood, Melbourne CBD and Richmond) boast a unique identity. These identities will be reflected within pop-up spaces, transformed showrooms and design trails, available to architects, designers and specifiers, exclusively during Melbourne Indesign. Visitors can also expect fantastic installations, game-changing talks and a true immersion in the design life of the city. The Project, a crowd-pulling injection of creativity, will also return in 2016, benefiting from this curatorial approach. Each precinct will have its own unique Project theme, ensuring diversity and excitement in the collaborations. With 2015’s projects including everything from a colourful and child-like ball pit to a live dance presentation, The Project keeps getting better and better. Our seminar series will also be returning by popular demand, with topics announced early next year. In 2015 the seminars were a stunning success, with incredible panellists from around the world and insightful and accessible topics. When: Friday 12th and Saturday 13th August 2016. Where: Collingwood, Melbourne CBD and Richmond Cost: As always Melbourne Indesign will be free to attend, with guests receiving plenty of bonuses for attending. In 2015 tens of thousands of dollars worth of prizes were given away. Reach: 7,500 visitors / 45,510 total audience For more information visit: melbourneindesign.com.au facebook.com/indesigntheeventabc Design Products Habitus Loves Habitus Loves… Gift Ideas for Plant Lovers by Editorial Team 14 December Indoor Green: Living With Plants Created by: Bree Claffey Why we love it: Indoor Green: Living With Plants is a beautiful hardback coffee table book that takes readers through plant-filled homes, studios and shops. Authored by Mr Kitly’s Bree Claffey with photography by Lauren Bamford, Indoor Green is packed with extensive knowledge, inspirational finds and practical advice. Post-Christmas, readers will certainly be visiting their local plant shop with creative ideas for greening their abode. Where you can get it: Mr Kitly Tetrus Hanging Planter by MRD Home Created by: MRD Home Why we love it: Not since the 1970s have hanging houseplants been so popular, freeing up floor and surface space and adding luscious green touches all around a room. MRD Home’s planter combines the raw, refined beauty and simplicity of concrete with blush leather and will look beautiful with Devil's Ivy (Golden Pothos / Epipremnum aureum) curling around its straps and draping over the edges. Where you can get it: Mint Interior Design Selfwatering Plant Pot by Mr Kitly x Decor Created by: Richard Carlson Why we love it: Richard Carlson’s 1980s classic of the plant world is back with thanks to Mr Kitly in collaboration with Decor. The self-watering plant pot is simple to use and will tempt all those dabbling with indoor plants: just add water from above for the first few days then top up via the water well below as needed. The minimalist plastic pots are available in four colours. Where you can get it: Mr Kitly Daisy Plant Stand by Ivy Muse Created by: Jacqui Vidal and Alana Langan Why we love it: Jacqui Vidal and Alana Langan are the long-time friends behind Ivy Muse, designing beautiful plant stands made locally in Melbourne. The Daisy plant stand is part of their Calypso collection, which features striking shapes, patterns and colours. Set a Hoya Heuschkeliana in the top and its beautiful leaves will trail down the side. Where you can get it: Ivy Muse Gardening Tools by Grafa Created by: Travis Blandford Why we love it: Based in Melbourne’s inner west, Grafa’s Travis Blandford handcrafts a distinctive range of gardening tools in new and recycled copper, bronze and timber. In materials beneficial for the soil and designed to connect hand and earth, Grafa tools will serve both gardens and gardeners well for many years to come. Where you can get it: Grafa A plant from The Plantarum Created by: Sonia Killmore Why we love it: A plant is a gift that keeps on giving adding colour and life to a home as well as improving air quality and plant-owners’ moods. The Plantarum offers a bespoke plant-oriented service with lots of “easy-going plants” to choose from. Wrapped with natural hand dyed indigo cotton, The Plantarum’s selection of plants are good to go for Christmas day. Where you can get it: The Plantarum Ceramic Planter by Sophie Moran Created by: Sophie Moran Why we love it: If you’re shopping for someone with a great appreciation for the textured look and feel of pottery then Sophie Moran’s handcrafted ceramic pots are plant- and present-perfect. Working from a private studio in Collingwood, Melbourne, Sophie makes planters in simple, functional and timeless forms with a soft colour palette to complement the potted plant. Where you can get it: Modern Times 30:30 Landscape Architecture Created by: Meaghan Kombol Why we love it: For landscaping and design enthusiasts, 30:30 Landscape Architecture by Meaghan Kombol showcases contemporary landscape design from around the globe. 30 renowned and influential landscape architects explore the work of 30 next-generation landscape architects, divulging their inspirations and design processes and debating key issues. Where you can get it: Angus & Robertson Greenwall by SkALE Greenwall Created by: SkALE Greenwall Why we love it: Add a lot of lush greenery to a balcony or garden with a vertical garden or green wall. SkALE Greenwall’s easy-to-install system is made up of lots of individual pieces joined together for a customised size. Fill with herbs, succulents or plants to create a personally-tailored green wall. Where you can get it: Vertigro Case Study Cylinder Planter by Modernica Created by: Modernica Why we love it: Modernica’s Case Study Planter originated during the prolific design period of the 1950s and 60s and combines the modernist aesthetic with the notion that ‘good design’ should be available to all. A cylindrical ceramic pot nestles into an elegant wooded frame for a classic yet fresh addition to the home. Where you can get it: Top3 Haws 1L Watering Can Created by: Haws Why we love it: Handmade in the UK, Haws is the dedicated gardener’s watering can of choice. Made from galvanised sheet metal with a powder-coated finish (in sage, duckegg blue, cream, green and burgundy), Haws Watering Cans have an elegant design with curves in the all right the places. Where you can get it: The Potting Shed Tools abc Design Products Habitus Loves Habitus Loves… Melbourne Potters by Editorial Team 11 December Stillness Created by: Shiko Why we love it: Sophie Harle's work can be seen in many cafes around Melbourne. Inspired by the Japanese concept of mingei (the handcrafted art of ordinary people), her functional vessels are designed for everyday use – a quiet simplicity speaking through smooth, caress-worthy surfaces. Where you can get it: Shiko Playful Created by: Takeawei Why we love it: Chela Edmunds makes functional wheel-thrown tableware with a sense of humour. Cups are dappled with colourful hues inspired by nature, while finger-painted patterns add a definitive handmade touch to bowls and vessels. The fried egg brekky plate is on our wish list. Where you can get it: Takeawei From the earth Created by: Sarah Schembri Why we love it: Sarah's work sees wheel-thrown stoneware clay finished with a shino glaze to produce an earthy speckle. This ceramicist draws from Japanese traditions to make textural beakers, salad bowls, plates and the occasional spoon. Where you can get it: Sarah Schembri Quirk factor Created by: Jessilla Rogers Why we love it: This young potter handbuilds cups and plates in abstract, wonky shapes, which are then playfully painted in all manner of colours and the occasional dash of gold lustre. Possibly the most fun your makeshift chip 'n' dip bowl and plate could ever be. Where you can get it: Jessilla Rogers Blue Created by: La Petite Fabrique de Brunswick Why we love it: French-born emerging potter Lucile Sciallano creates slip-cast porcelain cups, bowls and platters from her studio in Brunswick. Marbling and milky-way patterns in her signature blue tones splay across fine forms – each stain unique to that particular vessel. Where you can get it: La Petite Fabrique de Brunswick Organic Created by: Bridget Bodenham Why we love it: Technically based in Daylesford, not Melbourne, this beloved earth bender shapes stoneware, raku and porcelain clays into delightfully tactile cups, spoons and plates. Motifs sway from gold speckles to handpainted indigo stripes, with the tones and textures of nature present in each collection. Where you can get it: Bridget Bodenham Double Dip Created by: Brooke Thorn Ceramics Why we love it: This interior designer turned ceramicist makes beautiful wheel-thrown and mould-cast functional tableware. From sweet side bowls to beakers and large platters, you can complete a single-hued set or mix-and-match your own colourways. Where you can get it: Brooke Thorn Ceramics abc Happenings What's On Human sculptures grace Hong Kong in Event Horizon by Andrew McDonald 10 December Conceived by British artist Antony Gormley, Event Horizon officially launched on November 19 and remind be a part of the Hong Kong cityscape until May 18, 2016. The most extensive public art installation ever seen in the city, Event Horizon brings Hong Kongers a chance to see their city in new and unique ways. The 31 sculptures have been installed at both street level and, quite strikingly, stop buildings across a kilometre wide zone of the city’s Central and Western district. “Event Horizon captures the particular time of a particular body: a subjective place,” says artist and creator Antony Gormley. “The principle dynamic of the work is the relationship between imagination and the horizon, involving the citizen in a game of seeking and perhaps finding. Beyond those figures that you can actually see, how many more are out of sight? Where is the meeting place of earth and sky? Event Horizon engages Hong Kongers in the desire to look up and look again at familiar places in a new way, inviting reflection on human nature and our place in the wider scheme of things.” Presented in collaboration between the British Council Hong Kong with support from partner K11 Art Foundation, Hong Kong is the first Asian city to stage the installation, which previously impressed viewers in London, Rotterdam, New York, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. For Hong Kong, Event Horizon is being complimented by an education and outreach program, which includes activities and support tools for students, teachers and interested public. Photography by Oak Taylor-Smith Event Horizon eventhorizon.hk abc Happenings What's On Alesandro Ljubicic and the Scent of Painting by Andrew McDonald 10 December Running from February 3 to 27, 2016 at Michael Reid Sydney, The Scent of Painting gallery exhibition will showcase a new, colourfully intense body of paintings. Physically immersive, the new gallery serves as Alesandro Ljubicic’s response to the beauty of nature, and envelops the viewer in playfully experimental hues. The gallery is a creative collaboration between Ljubicic himself, Sydney-based florist Mr. Cook, Brisbane-based perfumer Damask Perfumery and Scotland’s bespoke scarf manufacturer Kmossed. This sees Ljubicic inviting audiences on a multi-layered sensory experience through colour, aroma and texture. Ljubicic's talent in both the large and small scale still life floral worlds is revealed in full in The Scent of Painting, going so far as to closely work closely with floral designer Sean Cook in order to truly grasp the beauty of flowers. To compliment the new body of work, Ljubicic has also created a soecuak magnolia infused scent and a range of limited edition hand-made scarves. “In essence I am creating a multi-layered experience that provokes all the senses. This new body of work moves beyond the canvas to explore new creative forms that the audience can interact with in an intimate way,” explains Ljubicic. The exhibition itself will be encompassing the entirety of Michael Reid Sydney’s late-Victorian terrace building, with all of three exhibition spaces showcasing the creativity of all involved. Ljubicic comes to the art world following study at the National Art School in Sydney. Since graduating, his works have been featured in curated group shows around Australia, exhibited work at Sydney Contemporary Art Fair and in a series of solo shows in Sydney and Melbourne. Alesandro Ljubicic alesandroljubicic.com Michael Reid Sydney michaelreid.com.au abc Design Hunters The City of Sydney and kil.n.it moulding ceramic artists of tomorrow by Andrew McDonald 9 December The artists and teachers at kil.n.it have a new space containing six artists’ studios, a live and work apartment for visiting artists, a workshop and two kilns for hire. The space has been funded by an accommodation grant from the City of Sydney worth $100,000 over two years. Ultimately, kil.n.it aims to make ceramic arts more accessible for Sydneysiders and out of town visitors. This has the group kil.n.it offering opportunities for artists of all skill levels, and the ceramic curious, the chance to get dirty with the clay. The new hub at the City’s Nurses Quarters building on Glebe Point Road includes a comprehensive program of classes and educational programs for industry and local residents. Bookings for classes for adults and kids alike can be made on kil.n.it’s new website, launched in conjunction with the new space. “The aim is to provide affordable, accessible ceramic-making to artists and the broader community,” says director Bev Shroot. “kil.n.it has emerged as a response to the increasing popularity of ceramics as an artistic medium. We aim to provide ceramic studio space with an experimental approach.” As well as operating the space, kil.n.it also will also be managing a series of fixed-term artist tenancies at the site and the live/work apartment. This will provide an affordable residency program for visiting artists to better foster collaboration between emerging and established artists. kil.n.it kil-n-it.com abc Happenings What's On Art Month Sydney is back with fresh ideas 2016 by Andrew McDonald 9 December Running from March 1 to March 20, Art Month Sydney returns in 2016 with new Creative Director, Barry Keldoulis. The 2016 program has been inspired by the creative producers of Sydney and expands across the city to previously unused spaces and unexpected locations. Art Month Sydney will include exhibitions, talks, tours and experiences, not to mention the much‐loved Precinct Nights. The event will highlight the galleries, institutions, artist-run-initiatives, art schools, artists and curators that make up Sydney’s marketplace of art and ideas. “If we think of the city as an engine that drives creativity, what are the parts of the motor that move differently but in union to produce forward motion?” asks Barry, “It’s often said that artists aren’t artists because they want to be, but because they have to be. If it’s the artists’ creative juices that are the fuel, what, are the pistons that fire, the drive shafts that crank, and the wheels that turn to get this engine of creativity moving. Art Month 2016 throws the elemental pieces of that engine down in front of you, artists, art schools, studios, galleries, institutions, both “bricks and mortar and virtual”, collections private and public, for you to piece together how these form a working whole.” The annual Collectors’ Space will again celebrate private art collections, and in 2016 will be presented in an unoccupied inner city house. The space, which will be announced only weeks before the exhibition opens, will showcase works from the collections of Sally Dan‐ Cuthbert, Courtney Gibson, Danny Goldberg, and Jasper Knight. The domestic setting of the Collectors’ Space will offer a homely context not normally associated with public exhibitions Precinct Nights in Art Month Sydney 2016, and begins with a Mardi Gras‐inspired queer night in Eastern Sydney on March the 3rd. Queer performers will transform restaurants, bars and retail stores during the night, and Alaska Studios is hosting a queer cabaret in their untouched basement space. The full Art Month Sydney 2016 program will be announced early January 2016. Art Month Sydney artmonthsydney.com.au abc Architecture Homes Coastal Modernity by Editorial Team 9 December Principle architect, Simon Perkins together with principle interior designer, Kanako Nakanishi have created a striking home that captures the spirit of its surrounds. The dwelling includes a double garage, four bedrooms and a lounge, as well as an open plan kitchen, meals and living space that opens onto a lush green lawn and surrounding bushland. A long lineal roof plane caps the entire building, and a striking vertical timber screen protects the deck that extends the length of the northern exterior. Large full height black aluminium doors connect the living areas and master bedroom to the deck and garden beyond, allowing sunlight to drench the internal spaces. White oiled oak floors add a contemporary but rustic sensibility to the interior palette, as well as stainless steel and marble bench tops, oak joinery and a white mosaic tiled splash back. Photography by Hilary Bradford and Derek Swalwell Styling by Heather Nette King InForm informdesign.com.au abc ← Previous Page 1 2 3 4 5 Next Page → TOP
Design Products Habitus Loves Habitus Loves… Gift Ideas for Plant Lovers by Editorial Team 14 December Indoor Green: Living With Plants Created by: Bree Claffey Why we love it: Indoor Green: Living With Plants is a beautiful hardback coffee table book that takes readers through plant-filled homes, studios and shops. Authored by Mr Kitly’s Bree Claffey with photography by Lauren Bamford, Indoor Green is packed with extensive knowledge, inspirational finds and practical advice. Post-Christmas, readers will certainly be visiting their local plant shop with creative ideas for greening their abode. Where you can get it: Mr Kitly Tetrus Hanging Planter by MRD Home Created by: MRD Home Why we love it: Not since the 1970s have hanging houseplants been so popular, freeing up floor and surface space and adding luscious green touches all around a room. MRD Home’s planter combines the raw, refined beauty and simplicity of concrete with blush leather and will look beautiful with Devil's Ivy (Golden Pothos / Epipremnum aureum) curling around its straps and draping over the edges. Where you can get it: Mint Interior Design Selfwatering Plant Pot by Mr Kitly x Decor Created by: Richard Carlson Why we love it: Richard Carlson’s 1980s classic of the plant world is back with thanks to Mr Kitly in collaboration with Decor. The self-watering plant pot is simple to use and will tempt all those dabbling with indoor plants: just add water from above for the first few days then top up via the water well below as needed. The minimalist plastic pots are available in four colours. Where you can get it: Mr Kitly Daisy Plant Stand by Ivy Muse Created by: Jacqui Vidal and Alana Langan Why we love it: Jacqui Vidal and Alana Langan are the long-time friends behind Ivy Muse, designing beautiful plant stands made locally in Melbourne. The Daisy plant stand is part of their Calypso collection, which features striking shapes, patterns and colours. Set a Hoya Heuschkeliana in the top and its beautiful leaves will trail down the side. Where you can get it: Ivy Muse Gardening Tools by Grafa Created by: Travis Blandford Why we love it: Based in Melbourne’s inner west, Grafa’s Travis Blandford handcrafts a distinctive range of gardening tools in new and recycled copper, bronze and timber. In materials beneficial for the soil and designed to connect hand and earth, Grafa tools will serve both gardens and gardeners well for many years to come. Where you can get it: Grafa A plant from The Plantarum Created by: Sonia Killmore Why we love it: A plant is a gift that keeps on giving adding colour and life to a home as well as improving air quality and plant-owners’ moods. The Plantarum offers a bespoke plant-oriented service with lots of “easy-going plants” to choose from. Wrapped with natural hand dyed indigo cotton, The Plantarum’s selection of plants are good to go for Christmas day. Where you can get it: The Plantarum Ceramic Planter by Sophie Moran Created by: Sophie Moran Why we love it: If you’re shopping for someone with a great appreciation for the textured look and feel of pottery then Sophie Moran’s handcrafted ceramic pots are plant- and present-perfect. Working from a private studio in Collingwood, Melbourne, Sophie makes planters in simple, functional and timeless forms with a soft colour palette to complement the potted plant. Where you can get it: Modern Times 30:30 Landscape Architecture Created by: Meaghan Kombol Why we love it: For landscaping and design enthusiasts, 30:30 Landscape Architecture by Meaghan Kombol showcases contemporary landscape design from around the globe. 30 renowned and influential landscape architects explore the work of 30 next-generation landscape architects, divulging their inspirations and design processes and debating key issues. Where you can get it: Angus & Robertson Greenwall by SkALE Greenwall Created by: SkALE Greenwall Why we love it: Add a lot of lush greenery to a balcony or garden with a vertical garden or green wall. SkALE Greenwall’s easy-to-install system is made up of lots of individual pieces joined together for a customised size. Fill with herbs, succulents or plants to create a personally-tailored green wall. Where you can get it: Vertigro Case Study Cylinder Planter by Modernica Created by: Modernica Why we love it: Modernica’s Case Study Planter originated during the prolific design period of the 1950s and 60s and combines the modernist aesthetic with the notion that ‘good design’ should be available to all. A cylindrical ceramic pot nestles into an elegant wooded frame for a classic yet fresh addition to the home. Where you can get it: Top3 Haws 1L Watering Can Created by: Haws Why we love it: Handmade in the UK, Haws is the dedicated gardener’s watering can of choice. Made from galvanised sheet metal with a powder-coated finish (in sage, duckegg blue, cream, green and burgundy), Haws Watering Cans have an elegant design with curves in the all right the places. Where you can get it: The Potting Shed Tools abc Design Products Habitus Loves Habitus Loves… Melbourne Potters by Editorial Team 11 December Stillness Created by: Shiko Why we love it: Sophie Harle's work can be seen in many cafes around Melbourne. Inspired by the Japanese concept of mingei (the handcrafted art of ordinary people), her functional vessels are designed for everyday use – a quiet simplicity speaking through smooth, caress-worthy surfaces. Where you can get it: Shiko Playful Created by: Takeawei Why we love it: Chela Edmunds makes functional wheel-thrown tableware with a sense of humour. Cups are dappled with colourful hues inspired by nature, while finger-painted patterns add a definitive handmade touch to bowls and vessels. The fried egg brekky plate is on our wish list. Where you can get it: Takeawei From the earth Created by: Sarah Schembri Why we love it: Sarah's work sees wheel-thrown stoneware clay finished with a shino glaze to produce an earthy speckle. This ceramicist draws from Japanese traditions to make textural beakers, salad bowls, plates and the occasional spoon. Where you can get it: Sarah Schembri Quirk factor Created by: Jessilla Rogers Why we love it: This young potter handbuilds cups and plates in abstract, wonky shapes, which are then playfully painted in all manner of colours and the occasional dash of gold lustre. Possibly the most fun your makeshift chip 'n' dip bowl and plate could ever be. Where you can get it: Jessilla Rogers Blue Created by: La Petite Fabrique de Brunswick Why we love it: French-born emerging potter Lucile Sciallano creates slip-cast porcelain cups, bowls and platters from her studio in Brunswick. Marbling and milky-way patterns in her signature blue tones splay across fine forms – each stain unique to that particular vessel. Where you can get it: La Petite Fabrique de Brunswick Organic Created by: Bridget Bodenham Why we love it: Technically based in Daylesford, not Melbourne, this beloved earth bender shapes stoneware, raku and porcelain clays into delightfully tactile cups, spoons and plates. Motifs sway from gold speckles to handpainted indigo stripes, with the tones and textures of nature present in each collection. Where you can get it: Bridget Bodenham Double Dip Created by: Brooke Thorn Ceramics Why we love it: This interior designer turned ceramicist makes beautiful wheel-thrown and mould-cast functional tableware. From sweet side bowls to beakers and large platters, you can complete a single-hued set or mix-and-match your own colourways. Where you can get it: Brooke Thorn Ceramics abc Happenings What's On Human sculptures grace Hong Kong in Event Horizon by Andrew McDonald 10 December Conceived by British artist Antony Gormley, Event Horizon officially launched on November 19 and remind be a part of the Hong Kong cityscape until May 18, 2016. The most extensive public art installation ever seen in the city, Event Horizon brings Hong Kongers a chance to see their city in new and unique ways. The 31 sculptures have been installed at both street level and, quite strikingly, stop buildings across a kilometre wide zone of the city’s Central and Western district. “Event Horizon captures the particular time of a particular body: a subjective place,” says artist and creator Antony Gormley. “The principle dynamic of the work is the relationship between imagination and the horizon, involving the citizen in a game of seeking and perhaps finding. Beyond those figures that you can actually see, how many more are out of sight? Where is the meeting place of earth and sky? Event Horizon engages Hong Kongers in the desire to look up and look again at familiar places in a new way, inviting reflection on human nature and our place in the wider scheme of things.” Presented in collaboration between the British Council Hong Kong with support from partner K11 Art Foundation, Hong Kong is the first Asian city to stage the installation, which previously impressed viewers in London, Rotterdam, New York, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. For Hong Kong, Event Horizon is being complimented by an education and outreach program, which includes activities and support tools for students, teachers and interested public. Photography by Oak Taylor-Smith Event Horizon eventhorizon.hk abc Happenings What's On Alesandro Ljubicic and the Scent of Painting by Andrew McDonald 10 December Running from February 3 to 27, 2016 at Michael Reid Sydney, The Scent of Painting gallery exhibition will showcase a new, colourfully intense body of paintings. Physically immersive, the new gallery serves as Alesandro Ljubicic’s response to the beauty of nature, and envelops the viewer in playfully experimental hues. The gallery is a creative collaboration between Ljubicic himself, Sydney-based florist Mr. Cook, Brisbane-based perfumer Damask Perfumery and Scotland’s bespoke scarf manufacturer Kmossed. This sees Ljubicic inviting audiences on a multi-layered sensory experience through colour, aroma and texture. Ljubicic's talent in both the large and small scale still life floral worlds is revealed in full in The Scent of Painting, going so far as to closely work closely with floral designer Sean Cook in order to truly grasp the beauty of flowers. To compliment the new body of work, Ljubicic has also created a soecuak magnolia infused scent and a range of limited edition hand-made scarves. “In essence I am creating a multi-layered experience that provokes all the senses. This new body of work moves beyond the canvas to explore new creative forms that the audience can interact with in an intimate way,” explains Ljubicic. The exhibition itself will be encompassing the entirety of Michael Reid Sydney’s late-Victorian terrace building, with all of three exhibition spaces showcasing the creativity of all involved. Ljubicic comes to the art world following study at the National Art School in Sydney. Since graduating, his works have been featured in curated group shows around Australia, exhibited work at Sydney Contemporary Art Fair and in a series of solo shows in Sydney and Melbourne. Alesandro Ljubicic alesandroljubicic.com Michael Reid Sydney michaelreid.com.au abc Design Hunters The City of Sydney and kil.n.it moulding ceramic artists of tomorrow by Andrew McDonald 9 December The artists and teachers at kil.n.it have a new space containing six artists’ studios, a live and work apartment for visiting artists, a workshop and two kilns for hire. The space has been funded by an accommodation grant from the City of Sydney worth $100,000 over two years. Ultimately, kil.n.it aims to make ceramic arts more accessible for Sydneysiders and out of town visitors. This has the group kil.n.it offering opportunities for artists of all skill levels, and the ceramic curious, the chance to get dirty with the clay. The new hub at the City’s Nurses Quarters building on Glebe Point Road includes a comprehensive program of classes and educational programs for industry and local residents. Bookings for classes for adults and kids alike can be made on kil.n.it’s new website, launched in conjunction with the new space. “The aim is to provide affordable, accessible ceramic-making to artists and the broader community,” says director Bev Shroot. “kil.n.it has emerged as a response to the increasing popularity of ceramics as an artistic medium. We aim to provide ceramic studio space with an experimental approach.” As well as operating the space, kil.n.it also will also be managing a series of fixed-term artist tenancies at the site and the live/work apartment. This will provide an affordable residency program for visiting artists to better foster collaboration between emerging and established artists. kil.n.it kil-n-it.com abc Happenings What's On Art Month Sydney is back with fresh ideas 2016 by Andrew McDonald 9 December Running from March 1 to March 20, Art Month Sydney returns in 2016 with new Creative Director, Barry Keldoulis. The 2016 program has been inspired by the creative producers of Sydney and expands across the city to previously unused spaces and unexpected locations. Art Month Sydney will include exhibitions, talks, tours and experiences, not to mention the much‐loved Precinct Nights. The event will highlight the galleries, institutions, artist-run-initiatives, art schools, artists and curators that make up Sydney’s marketplace of art and ideas. “If we think of the city as an engine that drives creativity, what are the parts of the motor that move differently but in union to produce forward motion?” asks Barry, “It’s often said that artists aren’t artists because they want to be, but because they have to be. If it’s the artists’ creative juices that are the fuel, what, are the pistons that fire, the drive shafts that crank, and the wheels that turn to get this engine of creativity moving. Art Month 2016 throws the elemental pieces of that engine down in front of you, artists, art schools, studios, galleries, institutions, both “bricks and mortar and virtual”, collections private and public, for you to piece together how these form a working whole.” The annual Collectors’ Space will again celebrate private art collections, and in 2016 will be presented in an unoccupied inner city house. The space, which will be announced only weeks before the exhibition opens, will showcase works from the collections of Sally Dan‐ Cuthbert, Courtney Gibson, Danny Goldberg, and Jasper Knight. The domestic setting of the Collectors’ Space will offer a homely context not normally associated with public exhibitions Precinct Nights in Art Month Sydney 2016, and begins with a Mardi Gras‐inspired queer night in Eastern Sydney on March the 3rd. Queer performers will transform restaurants, bars and retail stores during the night, and Alaska Studios is hosting a queer cabaret in their untouched basement space. The full Art Month Sydney 2016 program will be announced early January 2016. Art Month Sydney artmonthsydney.com.au abc Architecture Homes Coastal Modernity by Editorial Team 9 December Principle architect, Simon Perkins together with principle interior designer, Kanako Nakanishi have created a striking home that captures the spirit of its surrounds. The dwelling includes a double garage, four bedrooms and a lounge, as well as an open plan kitchen, meals and living space that opens onto a lush green lawn and surrounding bushland. A long lineal roof plane caps the entire building, and a striking vertical timber screen protects the deck that extends the length of the northern exterior. Large full height black aluminium doors connect the living areas and master bedroom to the deck and garden beyond, allowing sunlight to drench the internal spaces. White oiled oak floors add a contemporary but rustic sensibility to the interior palette, as well as stainless steel and marble bench tops, oak joinery and a white mosaic tiled splash back. Photography by Hilary Bradford and Derek Swalwell Styling by Heather Nette King InForm informdesign.com.au abc ← Previous Page 1 2 3 4 5 Next Page → TOP
Design Products Habitus Loves Habitus Loves… Melbourne Potters by Editorial Team 11 December Stillness Created by: Shiko Why we love it: Sophie Harle's work can be seen in many cafes around Melbourne. Inspired by the Japanese concept of mingei (the handcrafted art of ordinary people), her functional vessels are designed for everyday use – a quiet simplicity speaking through smooth, caress-worthy surfaces. Where you can get it: Shiko Playful Created by: Takeawei Why we love it: Chela Edmunds makes functional wheel-thrown tableware with a sense of humour. Cups are dappled with colourful hues inspired by nature, while finger-painted patterns add a definitive handmade touch to bowls and vessels. The fried egg brekky plate is on our wish list. Where you can get it: Takeawei From the earth Created by: Sarah Schembri Why we love it: Sarah's work sees wheel-thrown stoneware clay finished with a shino glaze to produce an earthy speckle. This ceramicist draws from Japanese traditions to make textural beakers, salad bowls, plates and the occasional spoon. Where you can get it: Sarah Schembri Quirk factor Created by: Jessilla Rogers Why we love it: This young potter handbuilds cups and plates in abstract, wonky shapes, which are then playfully painted in all manner of colours and the occasional dash of gold lustre. Possibly the most fun your makeshift chip 'n' dip bowl and plate could ever be. Where you can get it: Jessilla Rogers Blue Created by: La Petite Fabrique de Brunswick Why we love it: French-born emerging potter Lucile Sciallano creates slip-cast porcelain cups, bowls and platters from her studio in Brunswick. Marbling and milky-way patterns in her signature blue tones splay across fine forms – each stain unique to that particular vessel. Where you can get it: La Petite Fabrique de Brunswick Organic Created by: Bridget Bodenham Why we love it: Technically based in Daylesford, not Melbourne, this beloved earth bender shapes stoneware, raku and porcelain clays into delightfully tactile cups, spoons and plates. Motifs sway from gold speckles to handpainted indigo stripes, with the tones and textures of nature present in each collection. Where you can get it: Bridget Bodenham Double Dip Created by: Brooke Thorn Ceramics Why we love it: This interior designer turned ceramicist makes beautiful wheel-thrown and mould-cast functional tableware. From sweet side bowls to beakers and large platters, you can complete a single-hued set or mix-and-match your own colourways. Where you can get it: Brooke Thorn Ceramics abc Happenings What's On Human sculptures grace Hong Kong in Event Horizon by Andrew McDonald 10 December Conceived by British artist Antony Gormley, Event Horizon officially launched on November 19 and remind be a part of the Hong Kong cityscape until May 18, 2016. The most extensive public art installation ever seen in the city, Event Horizon brings Hong Kongers a chance to see their city in new and unique ways. The 31 sculptures have been installed at both street level and, quite strikingly, stop buildings across a kilometre wide zone of the city’s Central and Western district. “Event Horizon captures the particular time of a particular body: a subjective place,” says artist and creator Antony Gormley. “The principle dynamic of the work is the relationship between imagination and the horizon, involving the citizen in a game of seeking and perhaps finding. Beyond those figures that you can actually see, how many more are out of sight? Where is the meeting place of earth and sky? Event Horizon engages Hong Kongers in the desire to look up and look again at familiar places in a new way, inviting reflection on human nature and our place in the wider scheme of things.” Presented in collaboration between the British Council Hong Kong with support from partner K11 Art Foundation, Hong Kong is the first Asian city to stage the installation, which previously impressed viewers in London, Rotterdam, New York, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. For Hong Kong, Event Horizon is being complimented by an education and outreach program, which includes activities and support tools for students, teachers and interested public. Photography by Oak Taylor-Smith Event Horizon eventhorizon.hk abc Happenings What's On Alesandro Ljubicic and the Scent of Painting by Andrew McDonald 10 December Running from February 3 to 27, 2016 at Michael Reid Sydney, The Scent of Painting gallery exhibition will showcase a new, colourfully intense body of paintings. Physically immersive, the new gallery serves as Alesandro Ljubicic’s response to the beauty of nature, and envelops the viewer in playfully experimental hues. The gallery is a creative collaboration between Ljubicic himself, Sydney-based florist Mr. Cook, Brisbane-based perfumer Damask Perfumery and Scotland’s bespoke scarf manufacturer Kmossed. This sees Ljubicic inviting audiences on a multi-layered sensory experience through colour, aroma and texture. Ljubicic's talent in both the large and small scale still life floral worlds is revealed in full in The Scent of Painting, going so far as to closely work closely with floral designer Sean Cook in order to truly grasp the beauty of flowers. To compliment the new body of work, Ljubicic has also created a soecuak magnolia infused scent and a range of limited edition hand-made scarves. “In essence I am creating a multi-layered experience that provokes all the senses. This new body of work moves beyond the canvas to explore new creative forms that the audience can interact with in an intimate way,” explains Ljubicic. The exhibition itself will be encompassing the entirety of Michael Reid Sydney’s late-Victorian terrace building, with all of three exhibition spaces showcasing the creativity of all involved. Ljubicic comes to the art world following study at the National Art School in Sydney. Since graduating, his works have been featured in curated group shows around Australia, exhibited work at Sydney Contemporary Art Fair and in a series of solo shows in Sydney and Melbourne. Alesandro Ljubicic alesandroljubicic.com Michael Reid Sydney michaelreid.com.au abc Design Hunters The City of Sydney and kil.n.it moulding ceramic artists of tomorrow by Andrew McDonald 9 December The artists and teachers at kil.n.it have a new space containing six artists’ studios, a live and work apartment for visiting artists, a workshop and two kilns for hire. The space has been funded by an accommodation grant from the City of Sydney worth $100,000 over two years. Ultimately, kil.n.it aims to make ceramic arts more accessible for Sydneysiders and out of town visitors. This has the group kil.n.it offering opportunities for artists of all skill levels, and the ceramic curious, the chance to get dirty with the clay. The new hub at the City’s Nurses Quarters building on Glebe Point Road includes a comprehensive program of classes and educational programs for industry and local residents. Bookings for classes for adults and kids alike can be made on kil.n.it’s new website, launched in conjunction with the new space. “The aim is to provide affordable, accessible ceramic-making to artists and the broader community,” says director Bev Shroot. “kil.n.it has emerged as a response to the increasing popularity of ceramics as an artistic medium. We aim to provide ceramic studio space with an experimental approach.” As well as operating the space, kil.n.it also will also be managing a series of fixed-term artist tenancies at the site and the live/work apartment. This will provide an affordable residency program for visiting artists to better foster collaboration between emerging and established artists. kil.n.it kil-n-it.com abc Happenings What's On Art Month Sydney is back with fresh ideas 2016 by Andrew McDonald 9 December Running from March 1 to March 20, Art Month Sydney returns in 2016 with new Creative Director, Barry Keldoulis. The 2016 program has been inspired by the creative producers of Sydney and expands across the city to previously unused spaces and unexpected locations. Art Month Sydney will include exhibitions, talks, tours and experiences, not to mention the much‐loved Precinct Nights. The event will highlight the galleries, institutions, artist-run-initiatives, art schools, artists and curators that make up Sydney’s marketplace of art and ideas. “If we think of the city as an engine that drives creativity, what are the parts of the motor that move differently but in union to produce forward motion?” asks Barry, “It’s often said that artists aren’t artists because they want to be, but because they have to be. If it’s the artists’ creative juices that are the fuel, what, are the pistons that fire, the drive shafts that crank, and the wheels that turn to get this engine of creativity moving. Art Month 2016 throws the elemental pieces of that engine down in front of you, artists, art schools, studios, galleries, institutions, both “bricks and mortar and virtual”, collections private and public, for you to piece together how these form a working whole.” The annual Collectors’ Space will again celebrate private art collections, and in 2016 will be presented in an unoccupied inner city house. The space, which will be announced only weeks before the exhibition opens, will showcase works from the collections of Sally Dan‐ Cuthbert, Courtney Gibson, Danny Goldberg, and Jasper Knight. The domestic setting of the Collectors’ Space will offer a homely context not normally associated with public exhibitions Precinct Nights in Art Month Sydney 2016, and begins with a Mardi Gras‐inspired queer night in Eastern Sydney on March the 3rd. Queer performers will transform restaurants, bars and retail stores during the night, and Alaska Studios is hosting a queer cabaret in their untouched basement space. The full Art Month Sydney 2016 program will be announced early January 2016. Art Month Sydney artmonthsydney.com.au abc Architecture Homes Coastal Modernity by Editorial Team 9 December Principle architect, Simon Perkins together with principle interior designer, Kanako Nakanishi have created a striking home that captures the spirit of its surrounds. The dwelling includes a double garage, four bedrooms and a lounge, as well as an open plan kitchen, meals and living space that opens onto a lush green lawn and surrounding bushland. A long lineal roof plane caps the entire building, and a striking vertical timber screen protects the deck that extends the length of the northern exterior. Large full height black aluminium doors connect the living areas and master bedroom to the deck and garden beyond, allowing sunlight to drench the internal spaces. White oiled oak floors add a contemporary but rustic sensibility to the interior palette, as well as stainless steel and marble bench tops, oak joinery and a white mosaic tiled splash back. Photography by Hilary Bradford and Derek Swalwell Styling by Heather Nette King InForm informdesign.com.au abc ← Previous Page 1 2 3 4 5 Next Page → TOP
Happenings What's On Human sculptures grace Hong Kong in Event Horizon by Andrew McDonald 10 December Conceived by British artist Antony Gormley, Event Horizon officially launched on November 19 and remind be a part of the Hong Kong cityscape until May 18, 2016. The most extensive public art installation ever seen in the city, Event Horizon brings Hong Kongers a chance to see their city in new and unique ways. The 31 sculptures have been installed at both street level and, quite strikingly, stop buildings across a kilometre wide zone of the city’s Central and Western district. “Event Horizon captures the particular time of a particular body: a subjective place,” says artist and creator Antony Gormley. “The principle dynamic of the work is the relationship between imagination and the horizon, involving the citizen in a game of seeking and perhaps finding. Beyond those figures that you can actually see, how many more are out of sight? Where is the meeting place of earth and sky? Event Horizon engages Hong Kongers in the desire to look up and look again at familiar places in a new way, inviting reflection on human nature and our place in the wider scheme of things.” Presented in collaboration between the British Council Hong Kong with support from partner K11 Art Foundation, Hong Kong is the first Asian city to stage the installation, which previously impressed viewers in London, Rotterdam, New York, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. For Hong Kong, Event Horizon is being complimented by an education and outreach program, which includes activities and support tools for students, teachers and interested public. Photography by Oak Taylor-Smith Event Horizon eventhorizon.hk abc Happenings What's On Alesandro Ljubicic and the Scent of Painting by Andrew McDonald 10 December Running from February 3 to 27, 2016 at Michael Reid Sydney, The Scent of Painting gallery exhibition will showcase a new, colourfully intense body of paintings. Physically immersive, the new gallery serves as Alesandro Ljubicic’s response to the beauty of nature, and envelops the viewer in playfully experimental hues. The gallery is a creative collaboration between Ljubicic himself, Sydney-based florist Mr. Cook, Brisbane-based perfumer Damask Perfumery and Scotland’s bespoke scarf manufacturer Kmossed. This sees Ljubicic inviting audiences on a multi-layered sensory experience through colour, aroma and texture. Ljubicic's talent in both the large and small scale still life floral worlds is revealed in full in The Scent of Painting, going so far as to closely work closely with floral designer Sean Cook in order to truly grasp the beauty of flowers. To compliment the new body of work, Ljubicic has also created a soecuak magnolia infused scent and a range of limited edition hand-made scarves. “In essence I am creating a multi-layered experience that provokes all the senses. This new body of work moves beyond the canvas to explore new creative forms that the audience can interact with in an intimate way,” explains Ljubicic. The exhibition itself will be encompassing the entirety of Michael Reid Sydney’s late-Victorian terrace building, with all of three exhibition spaces showcasing the creativity of all involved. Ljubicic comes to the art world following study at the National Art School in Sydney. Since graduating, his works have been featured in curated group shows around Australia, exhibited work at Sydney Contemporary Art Fair and in a series of solo shows in Sydney and Melbourne. Alesandro Ljubicic alesandroljubicic.com Michael Reid Sydney michaelreid.com.au abc Design Hunters The City of Sydney and kil.n.it moulding ceramic artists of tomorrow by Andrew McDonald 9 December The artists and teachers at kil.n.it have a new space containing six artists’ studios, a live and work apartment for visiting artists, a workshop and two kilns for hire. The space has been funded by an accommodation grant from the City of Sydney worth $100,000 over two years. Ultimately, kil.n.it aims to make ceramic arts more accessible for Sydneysiders and out of town visitors. This has the group kil.n.it offering opportunities for artists of all skill levels, and the ceramic curious, the chance to get dirty with the clay. The new hub at the City’s Nurses Quarters building on Glebe Point Road includes a comprehensive program of classes and educational programs for industry and local residents. Bookings for classes for adults and kids alike can be made on kil.n.it’s new website, launched in conjunction with the new space. “The aim is to provide affordable, accessible ceramic-making to artists and the broader community,” says director Bev Shroot. “kil.n.it has emerged as a response to the increasing popularity of ceramics as an artistic medium. We aim to provide ceramic studio space with an experimental approach.” As well as operating the space, kil.n.it also will also be managing a series of fixed-term artist tenancies at the site and the live/work apartment. This will provide an affordable residency program for visiting artists to better foster collaboration between emerging and established artists. kil.n.it kil-n-it.com abc Happenings What's On Art Month Sydney is back with fresh ideas 2016 by Andrew McDonald 9 December Running from March 1 to March 20, Art Month Sydney returns in 2016 with new Creative Director, Barry Keldoulis. The 2016 program has been inspired by the creative producers of Sydney and expands across the city to previously unused spaces and unexpected locations. Art Month Sydney will include exhibitions, talks, tours and experiences, not to mention the much‐loved Precinct Nights. The event will highlight the galleries, institutions, artist-run-initiatives, art schools, artists and curators that make up Sydney’s marketplace of art and ideas. “If we think of the city as an engine that drives creativity, what are the parts of the motor that move differently but in union to produce forward motion?” asks Barry, “It’s often said that artists aren’t artists because they want to be, but because they have to be. If it’s the artists’ creative juices that are the fuel, what, are the pistons that fire, the drive shafts that crank, and the wheels that turn to get this engine of creativity moving. Art Month 2016 throws the elemental pieces of that engine down in front of you, artists, art schools, studios, galleries, institutions, both “bricks and mortar and virtual”, collections private and public, for you to piece together how these form a working whole.” The annual Collectors’ Space will again celebrate private art collections, and in 2016 will be presented in an unoccupied inner city house. The space, which will be announced only weeks before the exhibition opens, will showcase works from the collections of Sally Dan‐ Cuthbert, Courtney Gibson, Danny Goldberg, and Jasper Knight. The domestic setting of the Collectors’ Space will offer a homely context not normally associated with public exhibitions Precinct Nights in Art Month Sydney 2016, and begins with a Mardi Gras‐inspired queer night in Eastern Sydney on March the 3rd. Queer performers will transform restaurants, bars and retail stores during the night, and Alaska Studios is hosting a queer cabaret in their untouched basement space. The full Art Month Sydney 2016 program will be announced early January 2016. Art Month Sydney artmonthsydney.com.au abc Architecture Homes Coastal Modernity by Editorial Team 9 December Principle architect, Simon Perkins together with principle interior designer, Kanako Nakanishi have created a striking home that captures the spirit of its surrounds. The dwelling includes a double garage, four bedrooms and a lounge, as well as an open plan kitchen, meals and living space that opens onto a lush green lawn and surrounding bushland. A long lineal roof plane caps the entire building, and a striking vertical timber screen protects the deck that extends the length of the northern exterior. Large full height black aluminium doors connect the living areas and master bedroom to the deck and garden beyond, allowing sunlight to drench the internal spaces. White oiled oak floors add a contemporary but rustic sensibility to the interior palette, as well as stainless steel and marble bench tops, oak joinery and a white mosaic tiled splash back. Photography by Hilary Bradford and Derek Swalwell Styling by Heather Nette King InForm informdesign.com.au abc ← Previous Page 1 2 3 4 5 Next Page → TOP
Happenings What's On Alesandro Ljubicic and the Scent of Painting by Andrew McDonald 10 December Running from February 3 to 27, 2016 at Michael Reid Sydney, The Scent of Painting gallery exhibition will showcase a new, colourfully intense body of paintings. Physically immersive, the new gallery serves as Alesandro Ljubicic’s response to the beauty of nature, and envelops the viewer in playfully experimental hues. The gallery is a creative collaboration between Ljubicic himself, Sydney-based florist Mr. Cook, Brisbane-based perfumer Damask Perfumery and Scotland’s bespoke scarf manufacturer Kmossed. This sees Ljubicic inviting audiences on a multi-layered sensory experience through colour, aroma and texture. Ljubicic's talent in both the large and small scale still life floral worlds is revealed in full in The Scent of Painting, going so far as to closely work closely with floral designer Sean Cook in order to truly grasp the beauty of flowers. To compliment the new body of work, Ljubicic has also created a soecuak magnolia infused scent and a range of limited edition hand-made scarves. “In essence I am creating a multi-layered experience that provokes all the senses. This new body of work moves beyond the canvas to explore new creative forms that the audience can interact with in an intimate way,” explains Ljubicic. The exhibition itself will be encompassing the entirety of Michael Reid Sydney’s late-Victorian terrace building, with all of three exhibition spaces showcasing the creativity of all involved. Ljubicic comes to the art world following study at the National Art School in Sydney. Since graduating, his works have been featured in curated group shows around Australia, exhibited work at Sydney Contemporary Art Fair and in a series of solo shows in Sydney and Melbourne. Alesandro Ljubicic alesandroljubicic.com Michael Reid Sydney michaelreid.com.au abc Design Hunters The City of Sydney and kil.n.it moulding ceramic artists of tomorrow by Andrew McDonald 9 December The artists and teachers at kil.n.it have a new space containing six artists’ studios, a live and work apartment for visiting artists, a workshop and two kilns for hire. The space has been funded by an accommodation grant from the City of Sydney worth $100,000 over two years. Ultimately, kil.n.it aims to make ceramic arts more accessible for Sydneysiders and out of town visitors. This has the group kil.n.it offering opportunities for artists of all skill levels, and the ceramic curious, the chance to get dirty with the clay. The new hub at the City’s Nurses Quarters building on Glebe Point Road includes a comprehensive program of classes and educational programs for industry and local residents. Bookings for classes for adults and kids alike can be made on kil.n.it’s new website, launched in conjunction with the new space. “The aim is to provide affordable, accessible ceramic-making to artists and the broader community,” says director Bev Shroot. “kil.n.it has emerged as a response to the increasing popularity of ceramics as an artistic medium. We aim to provide ceramic studio space with an experimental approach.” As well as operating the space, kil.n.it also will also be managing a series of fixed-term artist tenancies at the site and the live/work apartment. This will provide an affordable residency program for visiting artists to better foster collaboration between emerging and established artists. kil.n.it kil-n-it.com abc Happenings What's On Art Month Sydney is back with fresh ideas 2016 by Andrew McDonald 9 December Running from March 1 to March 20, Art Month Sydney returns in 2016 with new Creative Director, Barry Keldoulis. The 2016 program has been inspired by the creative producers of Sydney and expands across the city to previously unused spaces and unexpected locations. Art Month Sydney will include exhibitions, talks, tours and experiences, not to mention the much‐loved Precinct Nights. The event will highlight the galleries, institutions, artist-run-initiatives, art schools, artists and curators that make up Sydney’s marketplace of art and ideas. “If we think of the city as an engine that drives creativity, what are the parts of the motor that move differently but in union to produce forward motion?” asks Barry, “It’s often said that artists aren’t artists because they want to be, but because they have to be. If it’s the artists’ creative juices that are the fuel, what, are the pistons that fire, the drive shafts that crank, and the wheels that turn to get this engine of creativity moving. Art Month 2016 throws the elemental pieces of that engine down in front of you, artists, art schools, studios, galleries, institutions, both “bricks and mortar and virtual”, collections private and public, for you to piece together how these form a working whole.” The annual Collectors’ Space will again celebrate private art collections, and in 2016 will be presented in an unoccupied inner city house. The space, which will be announced only weeks before the exhibition opens, will showcase works from the collections of Sally Dan‐ Cuthbert, Courtney Gibson, Danny Goldberg, and Jasper Knight. The domestic setting of the Collectors’ Space will offer a homely context not normally associated with public exhibitions Precinct Nights in Art Month Sydney 2016, and begins with a Mardi Gras‐inspired queer night in Eastern Sydney on March the 3rd. Queer performers will transform restaurants, bars and retail stores during the night, and Alaska Studios is hosting a queer cabaret in their untouched basement space. The full Art Month Sydney 2016 program will be announced early January 2016. Art Month Sydney artmonthsydney.com.au abc Architecture Homes Coastal Modernity by Editorial Team 9 December Principle architect, Simon Perkins together with principle interior designer, Kanako Nakanishi have created a striking home that captures the spirit of its surrounds. The dwelling includes a double garage, four bedrooms and a lounge, as well as an open plan kitchen, meals and living space that opens onto a lush green lawn and surrounding bushland. A long lineal roof plane caps the entire building, and a striking vertical timber screen protects the deck that extends the length of the northern exterior. Large full height black aluminium doors connect the living areas and master bedroom to the deck and garden beyond, allowing sunlight to drench the internal spaces. White oiled oak floors add a contemporary but rustic sensibility to the interior palette, as well as stainless steel and marble bench tops, oak joinery and a white mosaic tiled splash back. Photography by Hilary Bradford and Derek Swalwell Styling by Heather Nette King InForm informdesign.com.au abc ← Previous Page 1 2 3 4 5 Next Page → TOP
Design Hunters The City of Sydney and kil.n.it moulding ceramic artists of tomorrow by Andrew McDonald 9 December The artists and teachers at kil.n.it have a new space containing six artists’ studios, a live and work apartment for visiting artists, a workshop and two kilns for hire. The space has been funded by an accommodation grant from the City of Sydney worth $100,000 over two years. Ultimately, kil.n.it aims to make ceramic arts more accessible for Sydneysiders and out of town visitors. This has the group kil.n.it offering opportunities for artists of all skill levels, and the ceramic curious, the chance to get dirty with the clay. The new hub at the City’s Nurses Quarters building on Glebe Point Road includes a comprehensive program of classes and educational programs for industry and local residents. Bookings for classes for adults and kids alike can be made on kil.n.it’s new website, launched in conjunction with the new space. “The aim is to provide affordable, accessible ceramic-making to artists and the broader community,” says director Bev Shroot. “kil.n.it has emerged as a response to the increasing popularity of ceramics as an artistic medium. We aim to provide ceramic studio space with an experimental approach.” As well as operating the space, kil.n.it also will also be managing a series of fixed-term artist tenancies at the site and the live/work apartment. This will provide an affordable residency program for visiting artists to better foster collaboration between emerging and established artists. kil.n.it kil-n-it.com abc Happenings What's On Art Month Sydney is back with fresh ideas 2016 by Andrew McDonald 9 December Running from March 1 to March 20, Art Month Sydney returns in 2016 with new Creative Director, Barry Keldoulis. The 2016 program has been inspired by the creative producers of Sydney and expands across the city to previously unused spaces and unexpected locations. Art Month Sydney will include exhibitions, talks, tours and experiences, not to mention the much‐loved Precinct Nights. The event will highlight the galleries, institutions, artist-run-initiatives, art schools, artists and curators that make up Sydney’s marketplace of art and ideas. “If we think of the city as an engine that drives creativity, what are the parts of the motor that move differently but in union to produce forward motion?” asks Barry, “It’s often said that artists aren’t artists because they want to be, but because they have to be. If it’s the artists’ creative juices that are the fuel, what, are the pistons that fire, the drive shafts that crank, and the wheels that turn to get this engine of creativity moving. Art Month 2016 throws the elemental pieces of that engine down in front of you, artists, art schools, studios, galleries, institutions, both “bricks and mortar and virtual”, collections private and public, for you to piece together how these form a working whole.” The annual Collectors’ Space will again celebrate private art collections, and in 2016 will be presented in an unoccupied inner city house. The space, which will be announced only weeks before the exhibition opens, will showcase works from the collections of Sally Dan‐ Cuthbert, Courtney Gibson, Danny Goldberg, and Jasper Knight. The domestic setting of the Collectors’ Space will offer a homely context not normally associated with public exhibitions Precinct Nights in Art Month Sydney 2016, and begins with a Mardi Gras‐inspired queer night in Eastern Sydney on March the 3rd. Queer performers will transform restaurants, bars and retail stores during the night, and Alaska Studios is hosting a queer cabaret in their untouched basement space. The full Art Month Sydney 2016 program will be announced early January 2016. Art Month Sydney artmonthsydney.com.au abc Architecture Homes Coastal Modernity by Editorial Team 9 December Principle architect, Simon Perkins together with principle interior designer, Kanako Nakanishi have created a striking home that captures the spirit of its surrounds. The dwelling includes a double garage, four bedrooms and a lounge, as well as an open plan kitchen, meals and living space that opens onto a lush green lawn and surrounding bushland. A long lineal roof plane caps the entire building, and a striking vertical timber screen protects the deck that extends the length of the northern exterior. Large full height black aluminium doors connect the living areas and master bedroom to the deck and garden beyond, allowing sunlight to drench the internal spaces. White oiled oak floors add a contemporary but rustic sensibility to the interior palette, as well as stainless steel and marble bench tops, oak joinery and a white mosaic tiled splash back. Photography by Hilary Bradford and Derek Swalwell Styling by Heather Nette King InForm informdesign.com.au abc ← Previous Page 1 2 3 4 5 Next Page →
Happenings What's On Art Month Sydney is back with fresh ideas 2016 by Andrew McDonald 9 December Running from March 1 to March 20, Art Month Sydney returns in 2016 with new Creative Director, Barry Keldoulis. The 2016 program has been inspired by the creative producers of Sydney and expands across the city to previously unused spaces and unexpected locations. Art Month Sydney will include exhibitions, talks, tours and experiences, not to mention the much‐loved Precinct Nights. The event will highlight the galleries, institutions, artist-run-initiatives, art schools, artists and curators that make up Sydney’s marketplace of art and ideas. “If we think of the city as an engine that drives creativity, what are the parts of the motor that move differently but in union to produce forward motion?” asks Barry, “It’s often said that artists aren’t artists because they want to be, but because they have to be. If it’s the artists’ creative juices that are the fuel, what, are the pistons that fire, the drive shafts that crank, and the wheels that turn to get this engine of creativity moving. Art Month 2016 throws the elemental pieces of that engine down in front of you, artists, art schools, studios, galleries, institutions, both “bricks and mortar and virtual”, collections private and public, for you to piece together how these form a working whole.” The annual Collectors’ Space will again celebrate private art collections, and in 2016 will be presented in an unoccupied inner city house. The space, which will be announced only weeks before the exhibition opens, will showcase works from the collections of Sally Dan‐ Cuthbert, Courtney Gibson, Danny Goldberg, and Jasper Knight. The domestic setting of the Collectors’ Space will offer a homely context not normally associated with public exhibitions Precinct Nights in Art Month Sydney 2016, and begins with a Mardi Gras‐inspired queer night in Eastern Sydney on March the 3rd. Queer performers will transform restaurants, bars and retail stores during the night, and Alaska Studios is hosting a queer cabaret in their untouched basement space. The full Art Month Sydney 2016 program will be announced early January 2016. Art Month Sydney artmonthsydney.com.au abc Architecture Homes Coastal Modernity by Editorial Team 9 December Principle architect, Simon Perkins together with principle interior designer, Kanako Nakanishi have created a striking home that captures the spirit of its surrounds. The dwelling includes a double garage, four bedrooms and a lounge, as well as an open plan kitchen, meals and living space that opens onto a lush green lawn and surrounding bushland. A long lineal roof plane caps the entire building, and a striking vertical timber screen protects the deck that extends the length of the northern exterior. Large full height black aluminium doors connect the living areas and master bedroom to the deck and garden beyond, allowing sunlight to drench the internal spaces. White oiled oak floors add a contemporary but rustic sensibility to the interior palette, as well as stainless steel and marble bench tops, oak joinery and a white mosaic tiled splash back. Photography by Hilary Bradford and Derek Swalwell Styling by Heather Nette King InForm informdesign.com.au abc ← Previous Page 1 2 3 4 5 Next Page →
Architecture Homes Coastal Modernity by Editorial Team 9 December Principle architect, Simon Perkins together with principle interior designer, Kanako Nakanishi have created a striking home that captures the spirit of its surrounds. The dwelling includes a double garage, four bedrooms and a lounge, as well as an open plan kitchen, meals and living space that opens onto a lush green lawn and surrounding bushland. A long lineal roof plane caps the entire building, and a striking vertical timber screen protects the deck that extends the length of the northern exterior. Large full height black aluminium doors connect the living areas and master bedroom to the deck and garden beyond, allowing sunlight to drench the internal spaces. White oiled oak floors add a contemporary but rustic sensibility to the interior palette, as well as stainless steel and marble bench tops, oak joinery and a white mosaic tiled splash back. Photography by Hilary Bradford and Derek Swalwell Styling by Heather Nette King InForm informdesign.com.au abc ← Previous Page 1 2 3 4 5 Next Page →
