A Retail Interior of Quiet Authority in Melbourne’s Armadale.

Melbourne’s High Street has a new retail space worth paying attention to. The Armadale flagship for Australian womenswear label Henne, designed by Sydney-based studio AP Design House, is a considered project that reflects both the brand’s identity and the particular character of the building it occupies.

The brief was clearly aligned with Henne’s broader design philosophy—precision over excess. Rather than imposing a bold new identity on the site, AP Design House worked with what was already there. Restored and newly introduced skylights draw natural light deep into the store’s narrow footprint, revealing the texture of original brickwork and timber roof trusses. The final interior feels rooted in its own history.

The material palette is grounded: natural clay brick, timber, and concrete provide structural honesty, while parachute fabric falls softly over brick tiles laid with deliberate cadence. Aged leather sofas, vintage lighting, and carefully selected objects introduce warmth and invite visitors to linger rather than move through quickly. Against this, refined insertions of steel, glass, and trapeze lighting introduce a more precise, contemporary edge—creating subtle visual tension that keeps the space engaging.

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The store references the industrial character of an 80s–90s rag-trade warehouse, softened by a mid-century sensibility. It’s an interesting combination, and it works. Mirrors placed throughout add layering and depth, making the long, slender site feel more expansive than its footprint suggests.

Circulation through the store follows a subtly irregular path—not quite linear, but purposeful. A central point of sale anchors the plan, with four fitting rooms and two generous styling spaces completing the layout.

AP Design House has delivered a retail environment designed for longevity rather than the moment. The rebuilt ceiling, described as a defining feature, was intentionally conceived to evolve alongside the brand. That kind of thinking—building in room for a space to grow and change—is the right approach for a label clearly invested in its own long-term trajectory.

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[Images courtesy of AP Design House. Photography by Tom Ferguson.]