Here, we ask designers to take a selfie and give us an inside look at their life.
Occupation: Director of Fiona Lynch Office.
Instagram: @fionalynchoffice
Hometown: Melbourne.
Studio location: Carlton, Melbourne.
Describe what you make: We create bespoke interior design, architecture, and highly crafted furniture pieces. We also curate showcases of design and art objects in our Melbourne gallery, Work Shop.
The most important thing you’ve designed to date: The TarraWarra Museum of Art here in Australia was a profound project for us. It was artistically engaging and technically satisfying, as we were creating solutions for this incredible, architecturally significant institution while still honoring its present stature.
We reimagined the gallery foyer, defining the expansive multi-use space and creating a more curatorial feel for their retail experience. We collaborated with local artists and designers on bespoke displays, and tapped gorgeous materials and finishes like Victorian bluestone, hand-worked linished metal, charred timber, and amber resin. Our sinuous forms of folded steel shelving, spindled tables, plus custom display cases and strategic placement of joinery allowed for new paths of circulation in the cavernous museum space. Come visit!
Describe the problem your work solves: We work in spaces, so with our interiors, architecture, and products, we’re solving problems around architectural idiosyncrasies and finding solutions that unite multi-use spaces, whether they’re for residences, retailers, or anyone in between. But one of our most important considerations, which underlies all of this, is our designs’ lifecycle and environmental impact, and the furnishings that we select.
We prioritize materials, objects, and furniture that are consciously produced, that possess enduring qualities, and that will age gracefully. We employ joinery elements and simple detailing that reduces waste from offcuts, and our custom designs, which are implemented into almost every interior project, are crafted to minimize maintenance and reduce overall energy consumption. We’re all very passionate about this commitment, and value keeping in community with those who are working in the same way.
Describe the project you are working on now: We’re working on the rooftop restaurant spaces for the upcoming Ace Hotel in Sydney, which is their first Australian property. We responded to its gorgeous, sprawling view of the Surry Hills neighborhood, creating a dialogue with the city through colors, textures, and materials. The palette came together quite organically to reflect the local landscape of native grasses, sandstone plateaus, hardened blue clay, and lush eucalyptus. And we’ve designed all the furniture custom to the space, textiles included. All the materials have been sourced locally, as well, which was a challenge, but that intentionality has translated really well to the richness of the interiors experience. We can’t wait to share more about this project soon.
A new or forthcoming project we should know about: This month, we released our first capsule furniture collection. It’s an expansion of the custom work and joinery that we’ve always done for our interiors, as well as our commitment to sustainable materials usage, and is inspired by our designs for the soon-to-open Ace Hotel in Sydney. The collection is produced locally with waste materials that were turned into pigment for the textile patterning, plus reclaimed timbers and offcuts of slumped glass. We were lucky to have great artisan partners to bring this to life, including Jacquie Hacansson, Ross Thompson, Spacecraft, Volker Haug Studio, and Fiona Lyda, whose recent Melbourne Design Week show the collection debuted in.
We also have a really exciting interiors project finishing up next month: a penthouse in Melbourne. The kitchen is a jewelry-like specimen, made with custom metals shifting from gold to silver to inky black, with an electric blue, sculptural shelf unit. It’s quite compelling!
What you absolutely have to have in your studio: We always have music going in the studio. It seems to help everyone focus and keeps the mood lively. Right now, we’re listening to a lot of Solange Radio.
What you do when you’re not working: I love to walk my dog, Moby. He’s quite rambunctious so it’s good for both of us to go on strolls. It’s also preparing me for a group trek I’m taking in June. I’m eager for the respite in nature but need to make sure the dog gets me in proper form for it!
Sources of creative envy: Charlotte Perriand. Her work, her genius, her ethos. We are constantly inspired by her.
The distraction you want to eliminate: Mobile Phones and emails! If only!
Concrete or marble? Marble.
High-rise or townhouse? High-rise.
Remember or forget? Forget.
Aliens or ghosts? Ghosts.
Dark or light? Dark.
