Table of contents for INTERIOR_20_201606 in Interior

Have you had any overseas design experience? No, but I travelled and worked in the Middle East, Europe and Australia prior to commencing my studies. I became excited about all the different architecture I saw and the way I saw it, unfiltered and through my own eyes. This experience ultimately informed my career path. What are the benefits and challenges of having your own practice rather than joining a big firm? Benefits – meeting and working with a range of people; I really enjoy this and gaining their trust as you work through a project with them. All our clients are investing a lot and we have a huge obligation to them. I like the responsibility and pressure that comes with that. Challenges – the admin side of running a…

There is little question that, over the past 10 years, the urban landscape of Auckland has changed for the better, but there are still challenges to overcome in order to make it a truly liveable city for a growing population. This year’s CoreNet Symposium titled Age of the City: CRE in the Changing Urban Environment, was, at the time of printing, expected to tackle these pressing issues. Presentations and discussions were to include the subjects of large-scale migration, social movements, infrastructure and technology integration, as well as how to create a healthy and inviting urban environment for city workers and residents. LESTER MCGRATH General Manager at The Auckland Theatre Company For the past five years, the Auckland Theatre Company (ATC) has been busy fundraising for, designing and building the ASB…

Aside from the ‘follow-me’ systems described below, Fonterra also wanted to also ensure the building was working hard for the environment in other ways, says Jasmax Project Director Tim Hooson. “Goodman (the building developer) did the base build and they have a strong stand on the relationship of their buildings with the environment. Fonterra is in an industry that is being challenged environmentally, and it wanted best practice for all green systems – and to go the extra mile too.” By promoting stair use, there is less energy wasted, as well as encouraging an active lifestyle for staff. Internal and external planting up the walls of the building promotes psychological well-being, whilst also helping to clear the air of Co². “Fonterra wanted to provide showers and lockers to help staff…

According to Mark Elmore, Head of Design at Fisher & Paykel “we wanted to reflect where we are from and the place that drives a lot of our thinking. Since we are from here it was an important way to make you feel at home while at the same time be a little aspirational.” The Experience Centre in Sydney uses exquisite materiality and a series of experiences to express this. At the entrance, for example, there is a moment to stop and drink tea before arriving at the space. “We felt this was evocative of arriving at someone’s home and someone putting the kettle on. Talking about tea, sharing a biscuit. Plus that gives us a signature experience right at the door,” says Elmore. From there you move left where…

This year, we received a record-breaking 145 entries, which included submissions from 104 design practices. The live broadcast of the finalists’ presentations was viewed by visitors from 68 countries. Most importantly, the whole process took place without a single glitch, thanks to the logistical support, sponsorship and generous time from a team of very talented people. You know who you are… we know exactly who you are, and we thank you dearly. This year’s most contested category was Hospitality, in which very high-calibre entries from around the country made our job both a challenge and a delight. Likewise, the Student category offered up some of the most impressive, well-researched and daring projects of the programme with a refreshing ethos of humanitarianism. Also this year, and as the list of finalists…

INSTITUTION UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND The Fictional Generator JURY COMMENT: Inspired by Eleanor Catton’s award-winning novel The Luminaires, Kate Turner created architectural and interior spaces that brought the text into three dimensions. The result is a poetic meditation on craft: the craft of writing, the craft of drawing and the craft of space making. Here, a literary narrative is skilfully translated into a series of delightful and evocative interiors, via a carefully controlled process of drawing and modelling. New Zealand’s vernacular architectural forms are explored, as are processes of object making, producing a range of surprising and highly original forms. In a category full of incredibly-thought-out and well-researched projects, Turner came to the fore due to her ability to listen to her ‘imaginary client’ (the author) and a near-cinematic talent to…

Myths and superlatives seem to define much of the conversations about architecture and design in China. The supersized projects of outrageous forms built at a rapid pace were constant illustrations to the story of the boom years of the ’00s. Meanwhile, the global design industry, attracted by the scale of opportunity on offer, developed a narrative of this ancient country as a fresh playing field for experimentation. Reinforcing this view, a Chinese approach that valued the new over the old and generally looked to import ideas at wholesale rather than adapt to local conditions. Within the design industry, stories of massive commissions of impossible scale and speed became legendary with the biggest and boldest making it regularly into the mainstream press. New Zealand’s increasingly global-looking design industry has not been…

SIMON BUSH-KING Writer Simon is an architect and urban designer, based in Amsterdam. He talks about working in China, pages 100-105. WHAT KEEPS YOU BUSY THESE DAYS? We’re currently working on a range of residential work, from four-storey canal houses to 50m2 apartments. It’s great working at different scales. WHAT IS YOUR OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF WORKING IN CHINA? For one project, I was tasked as an Urban Designer to create six inner-city parks in little over a week. Recently I’ve been involved in a large mixed-use development where the client thought nothing of asking me to come over for a site visit of less than 30 hours! CHINA’S PLACE IN THE WORLD OF DESIGN... WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE? You have to bet on China getting a lot…

While Frankfurt itself is somewhat of a small, friendly town, with just a smattering of skyscrapers at its centre to justify it being called a city, the scale of the Frankfurt Messe trade halls is astounding. In fact, Frankfurt’s economy largely thrives on the success of the fairs held at the halls, which cause the city’s population to double during the weeks. I arrived at Light+Building more than a little jet-lagged and found myself almost immediately in need of a place to stop and get my bearings. In the Press Centre I revised my plan for how to get around this huge exhibition. I had three days and there were 11 halls, some of them with more than one floor. There are travellators to take you from one hall to…

PROJECT: ArtWok CLIENTS: Jill Chen, Yan Yang LOCATION: Takapuna, Auckland DESIGN: Material Creative PROJECT TYPE: Hospitality FLOOR AREA: 185m2 PHOTOGRAPHY: Jeremy Toth TAKAPUNA continues to evolve as a vibrant Auckland suburb, with an ever-increasing range of top-notch retail and hospitality options. Just a few minutes’ drive over the Harbour Bridge, Art-Wok (on Hurstmere Drive) lures city dwellers with its pared-back and locally sourced take on Chinese cuisine. The fit-out, by Material Creative, employs thoughtful use of colour, lighting and accessories to tie together two distinct dining areas – including an exposed bar/servery on the lower level – in a mise en scéne that is unmistakably ‘Chinese restaurant’ but without the kitschy connotations that so often accompany that phrase. The space previously had been a Thai restaurant (with even earlier incarnations as…

HARRY ROWNTREE UNISPACE Harry Rowntree is a principal at Unispace, where he specialises in workplace design and strategy for complex commercial clients. His experience includes residential architecture as well as almost a decade of working in Tokyo alongside renowned designers, Masaki Kasuya and Taiji Yamamoto. During his previous role at Jasmax, Harry was involved in the design of Auckland waterfront’s The Cloud, Vodafone’s new South Island HQ and Icebreaker’s new HQ in Ponsonby. In his downtime, he enjoys relaxing with a good magazine and a quiet cappuccino, however with two lovely kids under four years old, he’s more likely to be found sipping a takeaway coffee down at the local playground. JO MONAGHAN CREATE CONSULTING Jo is the Director of Create Consulting, offering expert advice on workplace solutions, sustainability and…

DESIGN PRACTICE ANDREW BARRIE LAB & TEZUKA ARCHITECTS JURY COMMENT: This is a very telling example of what craftsmanship looks like in the 21st century: an extremely skilful and innovative integration of contemporary technology with traditional techniques and materials. Barrie Lab and Tezuka Architects used CNC technology for the construction of a laminated veneer timber structure using traditional timber joints rather than the steel normally required for pieces of such size. The process required exactitude and innovation. Its success was due in part to rigorous documentation as much as excellent communication with a number of experts. The attention to detail in crafting exacting junctures is a testament to the ‘art of the machine.’ The reference to the exposed wooden structures of the neo-gothic period is appropriate to the school’s location…

ACCORDING TO WIKIPEDIA, ancient Egyptian pharaohs made blinds from reeds – a common name for several tall, grass-like plants of wetlands. Now, fast forward thousands of years and civilizations into the twenty-first century. Today, in New Zealand, Luxaflex® solar control products are made from quality components, including many recyclable raw materials. For example, Luxaflex Revive® roller blind sunscreens are 100% cradle-to-cradle recyclable fabric, made from 89% recycled PET (polyethylene tetraphthalate) drink bottles. REVIVE® 100% cradle-to-cradle recyclable fabric The Manufacturing process: • Used PET drink bottles are collected and ground into plastic chips. • Chips are then refined into beads of polyester and extruded into fibre. • The fibre is spun into thread and woven into fabric Green, stylish, practical: Attractive fabric offering style to commercial interior spaces. Form and Function:…

What are you reading for leisure (or have you read lately)? The Enchanted Brocoli Forest by Mollie Katzen. My mother recently gave it to me. It has all her notes on how good each of the recipes are which is always helpful. Katzen is a famous American chef who is well known for her vegetarian cookbooks and restaurants. The best part about the book is that it’s from the 80’s and is entirely hand written and illustrated. Dreamy! What series or movies or shows are you watching at the moment? A clear favorite this year has been Only Lovers Left Alive by Jim Jarmusch. It’s dark and velvety with romantic vibes and fantastic set design. Oh… and some great music too! Jim Jarmusch, the director, is a genius. He also…

The Palazzo Bollani overlooks a small, quiet square in Castello, amid the labyrinth of alleyways and waterways which gives Venezia such wonderful charm. New Zealand opened the exhibition with a blessing and several ceremonies, in which Maori students from Unitec offered a moving contribution to welcome visitors, and the mostly Kiwi crowd even broke out into a popular waiata. Inside, an elegant entrance lobby opens into a reading room and, also, up a staircase to the first floor, where the exhibition begins in a very large room with high ceilings and canal views. In contrast to many of the exhibitions at the Biennale, which are typically quite graphic, text heavy or structural, Future Islands is a purely experiential design and seems more like an art installation. The main room becomes…

Former creative director for Working Style, Eddie von Dadelszen, has opened a menswear showroom in a heritage building in Britomart, where customers can purchase custom-made, handcrafted clothing and accessories. George Gregory from Cheshire Architects worked on the interior design for the store, which is minimalist in nature, but has an essence of regality and drama. “We pursued a spatial experience that would manifest and amplify qualities of darkness, strength and sensuality. Someplace sparse and raw and brave and refined all at once.” Dadelszen and Gregory wanted to create a space that was almost temple-like in its atmosphere. Gregory: “This is about drawing minimalism and luxury from the humble and the found.” SOFITEL WELLINGTON A new Sofitel is set to open in July in the capital, with views of the Wellington…

PROJECT: Fonterra HQ CLIENT: Fonterra Cooperative Group LOCATION: Auckland DESIGN: Jasmax PROJECT TYPE: Workplace FLOOR AREA: 16,000m2 PHOTOGRAPHY: Simon Devitt FONTERRA is a company wholly owned by hard-working shareholders, most of whom head out to work each morning in gumboots. So, when creating a new headquarters in downtown Auckland, a considered approach was required to provide for the changing needs of the company without losing touch with its rural roots. The creation of the new headquarters was driven by Fonterra’s need to amalgamate its corporate staff, who were scattered across five distinct Auckland locations, into “one Fonterra, if you will”, says Ben Coleman, Fonterra’s Development Manager, about the build. “There was a number of reasons for wanting to bring everyone together, including sustainability and cost effectiveness, but also the fact that…

The dark-stained timber walls and exposed concrete ceiling both play a role in this impression, but the lighting scheme is the most essential element. Overhead, two rows of large amber globes are anchored to the ceiling by swags of black cord. Reminiscent of traditional Chinese paper lanterns, these seemingly delicate objects sway slightly, and produce an ever-changing play of light across the ceiling and walls. Avondale-based artisan, Luke Jacomb uses both cast glass and glass-blowing techniques to create the oversized orbs that can be found in many hospitality interiors in the Auckland area and further afield; and Brandso knew that his aesthetic would be ideal for the Art-Wok fit-out. “We spoke, and Luke had a mould that he’d been wanting to use for ages, so he made us a few…

The Design Research Studio is the interior services arm of Tom Dixon that delivers high concept interiors, and architectural design using off-the-shelf and custom-made product of Tom Dixon. The Dock Kitchen, shown here, is the restaurant attached to Tom Dixon’s head office, where he is often found in the kitchen honing his culinary skills. A wide selection of his furniture and lighting come together against a backdrop of honest materials including concrete, brick and soaped wood, demonstrating how well suited the range is to commercial projects. Mike Thorburn Managing Director, ECC Auckland Wellington Christchurch Milano www.ecc.co.nz These companies made the Interior Awards possible. They are passionate about what they do and about the change they can effect in our built environment and cities. These companies believe in celebrating success.…

DESIGN PRACTICE AW ARCHITECTS JURY COMMENT: Exposing the architectural skeleton of small workspaces remains a strong stylistic feature of this category. This project, however, brought a much-welcomed touch of vibrancy, wit and DIY creativity to ‘industrial chic’. AW Architects have seasoned the style with unexpected materials, furnishings and colour to achieve something altogether fresh and dripping with ‘hipper-than-thou’ credentials. Particle board on many of the wall surfaces acknowledges and complements the raw, stripped-back persona of this space. Staining the material in black offers an enticing variety of shard-like textures. Ingenious space planning and the judicious use of colour produce an unexpected cross between grunge and minimalism; between bohemian art studio and a successful hovel of creativity. A careful balance between light and dark prevents the small space from being claustrophobic,…

DESIGN PRACTICE HARE INTERIORS JURY COMMENT: This salon is a re-work within an original concrete, louvred-glass and brick shell. With 180-degree road frontage and vast exposure, the way the interior was used and viewed from the exterior became as equally important as the way it was used and viewed on the interior. This is a highly functional space that relies on minimalist, linear and scultpural forms to create a luxury retail experience. Drawing inspiration from iconic minimalist art forms and mirrored box-like sculptures, each element became an object within itself and helped retain an uncluttered aesthetic. The concept of illusion is played with throughout, where function is hidden behind these sculptural forms. The play of materials and finishes was used to create these illusions, whereas the usage of well-researched vintage…

CURRENT DESIGN PRACTICE CTRL SPACE JURY COMMENT: Scrymgeour impressed the judges with a well-thought-out design philosophy delivered with an infectious passion for her craft. She spoke of a very clear design process that begins with observing and listening, contextualising, connecting interfaces, scaling (micro/ macro) and communicating clearly to all stakeholders. Her belief in the synergy between architecture and interior design and the need for a hollistic approach to interior spaces revealed a sense of maturity and understanding of the design-to-build processes. Her concept-driven approach meets technical rigour, producing an impressive body of work with a strong personal viewpoint. Scrymgeour’s ideas on partial privacy and her focus on material exploration, and the careful integration of old and new, point to attention to detail and imaginative thought. designer: SAMANTHA SCRYMGEOUR project involvement:…