Flying Machine: Bicycle Design Studio has opened its first digs in founder/designer Matthew Andrew’s hometown of Perth with a strong gallery feel.
It’s a fitting approach for the former landscape architect and fine art graduate who brings us his Base Urban and Sexy Bicycles brands.
It’s an industrial-looking space – white walls and a sealed concrete floor – divided into 3 spaces for meetings, 3 staff and storage. Bikes are hung gallery-style down 2 walls and curated in terms of colour.
A Barcelona sofa and Kietsu Studios rug (by Perth textiles designer Amber Ward) are surprise components in the space, but underline the design integrity of the brand.
“I have always loved the Barcelona and I’ve been a fan of Amber’s work for a while,” Matthew says.
“When you walk in, it looks like a gallery of bikes – you can’t see the office or storage areas. I like a really simple, clean, minimal approach, but still with a bit of a flair to it and I guess that is a response to the world these days,” says Matt.
Like most brilliant ideas, Flying Machine was born from need. Putting it simply, Matt wanted a bike to get from home to work and back again.
“I had never historically been a massive cyclist – I was more into skateboarding – but I wanted a cool bike and couldn’t find anything I wanted.”
Flying Machine bikes are designed from the frame and fork up in limited edition collections and manufactured in Taiwan.
“The same things are relevant in designing a bike – everything I have learnt in previous occupations have been beneficial to what I am doing now,” he says.
With a degree in fine art, Matt acknowledges colour is a big part of the aesthetic for the Sexy Bicycles brand. All palettes are made specifically for Flying Machine from the Pantone guide, and come in different finishes.
“Getting [the colour] right really makes the whole bike come together. While a bike may have great components, if the colour scheme isn’t right, in my opinion you don’t get something as unique.”
While Sexy Bicycles is heavy on the colour, the Base Urban bike comes only in black, white and grey.
“Some people want something more refined. Base Urban is for someone who wants to get down the street without being noticed, but still have high-end components,” he says.
“However, it comes down to mood – I have lots of bikes to ride and some days I just feel like riding something that isn’t so bright.”
Flying Machine
flyingmachine.com.au
Sexy Bicycles
sexybicycles.com
Base Urban
baseurban.com
Kietsu Studios
kietsustudios.com
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