Unpacking Nic Graham’s Design Approach for W Brisbane.We caught up with Australia’s leading hotel designer – Nic Graham, about one of his latest projects – the highly-anticipated W Brisbane which opened earlier this year. As the first five-star hotel to arrive in Brisbane CBD in 20...
Polycarbonate Neverland: Aranya Kids Restaurant by Wutopia Lab in Qinhuangdao, China.It seems kids aren’t quite as ‘un-cool’ as we previously thought. Turns out they’re not so crazy over primary colours and cartoon characters after all. Taking these new learnings on board, Shanghai-based architecture practice...
VR Villa in Beirut, Lebanon by Youssef Tohme Architects and Associates.There are two main things that initially attracted me to this extraordinary residence by Youssef Tohme Architects and Associates (YTAA). Firstly – it’s gobsmackingly, unimaginably, ridiculously good looking. I mean, that concrete, the...
Vitra 100 Miniatures Exhibition Arrives in Australia for the First Time.Seriously, who hasn’t dreamed of owning a collection of Vitra Miniatures? Hang on, it’s not just me, is it? Of course not, silly! Vitra Miniatures is the stuff of design legends, and the good news is that an exhibition of 100 minis is...
First Look at Gabriel Cafe in Fitzroy, Melbourne by Flack Studio.Flack Studio’s ‘flackification’ of the Fitzroy institution fluently combines the elements of the surprising and the familiar. “Gabriel is ingrained with a rich history. Within its fabric are many wonderful moments, meals,...
Studio McQualter Transforms Melbourne Literary Icon into MECCA’s Most Ambitious Flagship.In Melbourne's bustling retail precinct, a heritage building with a serious literary pedigree has found its most spectacular incarnation yet. MECCA's ambitious 4,000-square-metre flagship creates authentic dialogue between eras, with over...
Pattern Studio Creates Intimate Retail Haven for Deiji’s Sydney Expansion.Pattern Studio has transformed a compact Paddington heritage shopfront into an inviting retail destination for independent fashion brand Deiji. The 35-square-metre store prioritises warmth and accessibility over exclusivity. Custom oak...
Peter Marino Brings Parisian Sophistication to CHANEL’s New Sydney Boutique.CHANEL's new Sydney boutique occupies a redeveloped Market Street landmark featuring Australia's first dedicated Watches & Fine Jewellery space. Peter Marino recontextualises CHANEL's architectural codes through a sophisticated interplay...
Audo’s Monuments Installation Proves Restraint Can Be as Powerful as Ornamentation.Monuments showcases Audo Copenhagen's evolution beyond traditional showroom concepts. The installation spans Audo House's diverse environments—café, restaurant, concept shop, exhibition rooms and courtyard—each reimagined to explore...
DualSpace Studio Transforms a Kuala Lumpur Store into a Cinematic Experience.For Kuala Lumpur's Calaqisya Store, DualSpace Studio drew inspiration from Wes Anderson's meticulous aesthetic. The space features custom wood panelling that conceals functional elements, membrane ceiling lights casting golden warmth, and...
At Above The Clouds Melbourne Store, Pattern Explores Restraint as a Form of Richness.Above The Clouds' Melbourne expansion showcases Pattern Studio at their most considered. The young practice has refined their signature "unexpected dualities" theme into something more nuanced for the Collins Street store. It's retail...
Studio Plenty and Sarah Ellison Crack the Code on Urban Dining with Light Years Perth.Studio Plenty and Sarah Ellison have translated their Byron Bay concept to Perth's CBD context. Light Years Asian Diner overcomes significant heritage building challenges through strategic planning and clever material selection. The...
Spacegram Serves Up Italian Hospitality With a Twist at Scusa Restaurant in Lisbon.In a city and time where restaurants often chase the latest trends, Spacegram has taken a different approach with Scusa in Lisbon. This contemporary Italian restaurant reimagines the interior without falling into stereotypes—no checkered...
Swiss Architect Leopold Banchini Crafts Entire London Pub Interior From One Oak Tree.What happens when you build an entire pub interior from one oak tree? Leopold Banchini's Goodbye Horses in London's De Beauvoir Town shows exactly how powerful single-material focus can...
Euro-Inspired Design Meets Burleigh Beach Charm at the New Mondrian Hotel.Australia's first Mondrian hotel has transformed Burleigh Beach's hospitality landscape through Alexander CO’s sophisticated design approach. The 24-storey tower houses two distinct venues: LiTO ground floor restaurant featuring dramatic...
African Influences Meet Australian Landscape in Monarto Safari Resort by Studio Gram.At Monarto Safari Resort, Studio Gram bridge African and Australian design cultures. Innovation emerges through restraint rather than spectacle, creating spaces that foster genuine emotional connection while respecting both cultural...
Mid-Century Meets Modern Sandwich Culture at S’WICH Surry Hills.At S'WICH Surry Hills, mid-century meets contemporary sandwich culture. The bold duotone palette of red and steel grey creates what Studio Shand call "pop simplicity"—interiors that pull you in and make you stay. Drawing inspiration from...
Alexander Design Reimagines a 1979 Ronald Goldman Malibu Coastal Classic for Modern Living.California coastal architecture reaches new heights in this Point Dume transformation. Alexander Design's comprehensive renovation of Ronald Goldman's 1979 post-and-beam residence honours architectural legacy while meeting contemporary...
20-Year Friendship Creates Design Magic at Currumbin Valley Retreat.This Currumbin Valley retreat emerged from five years of collaboration between Grace Loves Lace founder Megan Ziems and Ellison Studios' Leigh McKeown—friends since high school who share an intuitive design language. Architect Harley...
From Island Prefabs to Tiny Treehouses: The Best Australian Homes of 2025.From modular construction that seamlessly integrates into coastal neighbourhoods to Victorian cottages reimagined with "loose fit" principles, these award-winning homes offer replicable blueprints for responsible design. The standout...
Order Matter’s Raw House Champions Honest Architecture in Seoul’s Dense Urban Landscape.Order Matter's Raw House represents a compelling counter-narrative to Seoul's dense urban landscape. Rather than relying on decorative flourishes, every decision serves a functional purpose, from the curved stair landing that maximises...
This Parisian Apartment Renovation Reimagines Art Nouveau for Today.Given carte blanche by his clients, architect Clément Lesnoff-Rocard embarked on a complete metamorphosis of this classical Parisian apartment. Each room tells its own story through unexpected interventions and striking material...
Hé Architectuur Transform 1990s Belgian Fermette with Rrammed Earth Walls and Winter Garden.Hé Architectuur's OMLOOP project demonstrates how Belgium's ubiquitous 1990s suburban housing can evolve for the future. The architects transformed a typical fermette by 'cutting open' conventional layouts and introducing rammed earth...
Bundarra Building Shows Heritage Restoration and Modern Design Can Be Best Friends.The corner of South Dowling and Fitzroy Streets in Sydney’s Surry Hills has had a major glow up thanks to Bundarra. This collaboration between Smart Design Studio and Those Architects combines meticulous heritage restoration with bold...
Singapore’s Brutalist Library Becomes Dynamic Workspace Thanks to Nice Projects’ Expert Touch.Nice Projects has turned a former Brutalist library in Singapore into The Lo & Behold Group's new headquarters. The brief was tricky—how do you make massive concrete vaults work for a hospitality company? The answer: smart moves...
Tabula Studio Transforms Client Experience Through Tactile Design in Bilbao Office.Architect Nerea Apraiz has transformed a 92-square-metre former consultancy into an immersive client experience where materials, finishes, and design solutions can be touched, tested, and experienced firsthand. From showcase toilets...
1970s NoMad Building Gets a Contemporary Makeover as Financial Firm HQ by Float Studio.Smart design decisions define Float Studio's NoMad headquarters project. Working within the historic building, the team created a financial firm workspace that honours 1970s architectural...
The World’s Leading Ergonomist Reveals Why Your Design Philosophy Needs a Human-Centric Upgrade.In an exclusive conversation with the world's preeminent ergonomist Professor Alan Hedge, Dana Tomić Hughes uncovers why ergonomics deserves a seat at your table as a vital design philosophy. From the science of microgravity to debunking...
Studio Manifold’s Design Double-Header in Melbourne’s Collingwood.In a heritage-listed building on Collingwood's Peel Street, Studio Manifold has designed two distinct but philosophically aligned projects I can only describe as a design double-header. Mane, a gender-fluid retail experience, and Two Birds...
