Melbourne, Australia – Tika Santoso, the Design Principal at Hub Interiors, recently embarked on a journey of inspiration to Melbourne for Saturday Indesign (SID) 2023, where design and innovation are synonymous.  Her meanderings across the city revealed a rich tapestry of culture and design that left an indelible mark.

Day 1: Immersed in a Cultural Mecca

Within the CBD, inspiration could be found at every turn. From Chinatown laneways, retail and commercial hubs, the delicate balance of new, old and creative insertions create a multitude of surprising moments throughout the cityscape.

Thoughtful use of materials, detailing, display and visual contrast were impactful. It’s clear to see why hospitality and retail sectors are so successful. Conceptual frameworks behind these spaces are unsullied by visual noise. Instead, the clarity of design ideas shines through making each venture a unique experiential journey.

Day 2: SID Highlights Alternating annually between Sydney and Melbourne, Saturday in Design or design in motion allows designers to engage in supplier lead events and explore products and showrooms across the city. This year in Melbourne, exhibitors covered three main precincts - CBD, Richmond and Collingwood. The event featured a dynamic program of design discussions, interactive installations, workshops, product launches, and more. It was a remarkable showcase of local creativity and innovation. Some of the event’s highlights included:

• Winya: This local indigenous owned commercial supplier engaged a local artist to create chalk stories along the pathways leading to their showroom showcasing their textile design and furniture. Local staff shared the rich historical context of the heritage listed building – formally a gold bank, set down from the streetscape and level to the Yarra River in order to easily transport the gold into the vault. The engaging storytelling theme consistent throughout showcased both indigenous textile artists and their individual and unique design collections. Visit them at https://winya.com.au/artists/A post from G on WINYA provided by: https://winya.com.au
• Signature Flooring: A kaleidoscope of rich, jewel-toned colours and bold organic patterns were the key visual elements of this space. Part of the showroom activation included tufting stations where visitors were encouraged to collaborate to create a custom patchwork rug. The main drawcard was the discussion panel with Maricor and Maricar, who are multi-disciplinarian design partners and twin sisters, launching their first big collaboration with Signature Flooring. Preferring to be called “Maker of Things” the self-taught duo’s love for pattern, texture and colour is evident in all their creations in the world of publishing and advertising. Working out of their eponymous studio in Sydney, they have a fervent following across the globe due to their impressive and unorthodox approach to combining the magic of needle and thread to create playful and vibrant embroidered wonders. For more visit https://www.signaturefloors.co.nz/
• Surface Gallery: The tile and timber product offerings on display were truly inspirational with a custom bespoke vibe. So many tactile textures to experience! Visit https://surfacegallery.com.au/ to view their extensive range and unique applications. The best find of the day was the range of handcrafted concrete vanities and basins from https://www.concrete.studio/ made locally here in WA. The colour palette was en pointe, ranging from a variety of comforting neutrals to both muted and bold tertiary colours to turn all your bathroom fantasies into a reality. Absolutely luscious!
• Thinking Works/Shaw Contract:  With staff dressed in double denim (there was a reason for this!), and a nod to the Barbie movie (Ken’s outfits) as the driving theme, the sense of fun was palpable from the moment you entered the collaborative Thinking Works and Shaw Contract space. Sustainability was high on the agenda, highlighting the recyclability of denim as a base material to create solid surface for some of their worktops and stools, thus saving tonnage to landfill. See more from these influential suppliers at https://thinkingw.com/about and https://www.shawcontract.com/en-au/

Day 3: Pilgrimage to Murcutt’s Magnum Opus

Considered Australia’s godfather of sustainable architecture, Glenn Murcutt is known for his use of local materials and his core philosophy that architecture should “touch the ground lightly”. Back in 2016, Tika attended his Architecture of Faith exhibit at the Ian Potter Centre, NGV Australia in Fed Square, which showcased the process of designing what many deemed to be his Magnum Opus – The Australian Islamic Centre in suburban Newport. Tika was inspired to make the trek to witness firsthand the impact of his enlightened approach.

Below is her response:

Murcutt engaged with the local Newport Muslim Community for over 10 years to create this groundbreaking response to the traditional Islamic aesthetic. Set in the backdrop of a public suburban parkland, the concept of breaking down the “fourth wall” is perfectly suited as it encourages open exploration rather than complete containment and separation.

The rawness of the brutalist concrete structure is balanced by the delicate, almost ethereal qualities of the clear glass louvre systems. Integration of landscaping elements such as the traditional and symbolic treescape of the external courtyard, and the mirror pool beyond the Qibla wall (orientation towards the Kaaba in Mecca) together with the sun chasing coloured lanterns create subtle changes through the interplay of light that acknowledges the specific times of day for the calls to prayer. Overall, the space is both reverent and engaging.

Finally, an inspirational project that has addressed both societal misconceptions and a local vernacular in a thought provoking and inclusive way without blindly replicating another culture's ideals of what the traditional aesthetic should look like.

https://australianislamiccentre.org/ https://www.glennmurcuttfolio.com/

Tika Santoso's Melbourne journey during Indesign 2023 was a testament to the power of design to transform spaces, blur boundaries, and inspire. Her experiences resonated with Hub Interiors' commitment to innovation, sustainability, and pushing the boundaries of design in creating stunning office fitouts and commercial spaces.

As Tika returned to Hub Interiors, her journey continued to influence and enrich the team's approach to interior design, aligning perfectly with the keywords that define their mission: office fitouts, commercial fitouts, and interior design.

Article Written by Joshua Buckham, Hub Interiors' Marketing Manager & Design Enthusiast

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