This year marks a decade since Space Furniture began its support of the annual AIDA Emerging Interior Design Practice prize that has seen budding young studios including Golden, Brad Swartz Architects, Sibling and Pierce Widera, go on to establish thriving design businesses. Here, More Space asks past winners how the award has helped build confidence and careers, and meets the 2021 award-winner Liam Eastop of Eastop Architects.
For the 2021 AIDA Emerging Practice prize, Eastop Architects in Melbourne took the gong for an impressive folio of work that includes the beautifully crafted Eastbourne House. “I think the jurors were all struck by the quality, breadth and depth of design in Australia that made us feel really inspired by our profession,” remarked Patrick Kennedy of Kennedy Nolan, one of this year's AIDA judges who was joined by Madeleine Blanchfield of Madeleine Blanchfield Architects, Rachael McCarthy from Bates Smart, and John Gertsakis of the Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence.
Over the past 10 years, the AIDA has become the barometer of Australia's rising talent – those budding practioners with newly established independent studios who only have a few projects on the books. Architecture takes time so the award is an important stepping stone to industry recognistion and a shortcut to planet media, the often elusive and clicky world that can be hard to navigate even for the established practices.
So, how does the AIDA Emerging Interior Design Practice prize impact studios just starting out? We asked winners about the influence the award has had on their practice, and take a look at what they are busy working on now.
The Brighton Residence by Golden features the Tufty-Time Sofa, Alanda coffee table and the Mart armchair, all by B&B Italia. Photos c/o Golden.
Golden
Founders of Golden, Kylie Dorotic and Alicia MdKimm whose work focuses on the domestic space, from collaborations with architects, to interior refurbishments and procurement of furniture collections for clients, describe the impact of the award as validation that they we were on the right path. “Winning in our first two years of practice expanded our industry and client networks, bringing opportunities that may not have otherwise been available," remark the duo. "Those early years of business can be all-consuming and it allowed us to look ahead with confidence."
Luchetti Krelle
“Winning back in 2010 has probably been one of the biggest career highlights for us. It came at a time when we were doing massive hours juggling the new business whilst supplementing our income by tutoring at UTS. It certainly put us on the map and energised us to keep on creating," remarks Rachel Luchetti, a principal of Luchetti Krelle. "We are now a team of over 20 working in the hospitality sector locally and internationally." Most recently, the studio has completed the Ovolo hotel in South Yarra, Melbourne, and The Upper in Tokyo, both projects asserting confidence and design presence.
Sibling
For Melbourne studio Sibling, cofounded by Amelia Borg in 2013, the award came after just three years in practice. "It was important in announcing our design credentials to the industry," remarks Borg. "It also helped showcase our creative and research-based approach to architecture.” In one of the studio's recent projects, Rodda Lane at RMIT, Sibliing's interest in civic spaces is explored through what Borg describes as "multiple urban infrastructures allowing for diverse spaces and uses". Layered with a rhythmic pattern of bricks and custom concrete paving in hues of blue, light-grey and white, the highly crafted intervention is a breath of pure creativity within its urban context, and a clever, graphically coded entry to the campus.
Gore House by Pierce Widera, and following. Photo c/o Pierce Widera.
"We have had a lot of exposure and recognition and the award has opened many doors for us. Most recently we were invited to join John Wardle's team for the NGV Contemporary design competition which has been an amazing experience and gives us the encouragement to keep challenging ourselves."
Amy Pierce, Cofounder, Pierce Widera
Pierce Widera
Amy Pierce and Nat Widera are design studio Pierce Widera, a thriving Melbourne practice that was recently invited to join John Wardle's architecture team for the NGV Contemporary design competiion. "We have had a lot of exposure and recognition and the award has opened many doors for us." Amy Pierce remarks. "The NGV Contemporary design competition has been an amazing experience and gives us the confidence and encouragement to keep challenging ourselves."
Fowler and Ward
"The award lent legitimacy to our new business and definitely expanded our reach, particularly during Covid when there have been less opportunities for people to engage with architecture physically," echoes Jessie Fowler, cofounder of architecture studio Fowler and Ward. "It has translated into clients who are confident to take a chance on larger, more complex and engaging projects." For Fowler, that confience is taking shape across a large multi-residential housing project, a tiny house for Base Cabin, and the evolution of the iconic Melbourne cafe St Ali in collaboration with local artists and makers.
The Brighton Residence by Golden, and following. Here, the living area features the Tufty-Time Sofa, Alanda coffee table and the Mart armchair, all by B&B Italia. Photos c/o Golden.
The McMahon's Point apartment by Brad Swartz Architects, and following. Photos c/o Brad Swartz Architects.
The Upper in Tokyo by Luchetti Krelle, and following. Photos c/o Luchetti Krelle.
Gore House by Pierce Widera. Photo c/o Pierce Widera.
Collingwood Studio, here and following, by Fowler and Ward. Photos © Pier Carthew.
Rodde Lane RMIT by Sibling, and following. Photos c/o Sibling.
"Those early years of business can be all-consuming and the award allowed us to look ahead with confidence."
Kylie Dorotic and Alicia MdKimm, Founders, Golden
Elm Tree House by Eastop Photo © Rory Gardner.
The living space of Elm Tree features the classic Camaleonda sofa by B&B Italia. Photo © Rory Gardner.
Brad Swartz Architects
"The AIDA was the first practice award we received. It was great for the ego, but also felt good to know that focusing the practice on living in the city with density, really well, was the right thing to do," reiterates Brad Swartz who founded Brad Swartz Architects in 2015 and won the Emerging Interior Design Practice prize in 2017. The studio has gained recognition for its inventive transformation of small spaces, breathing light and life into pokey basements and tiny bedsits. “Working with a range of great projects and people is keeping us busy," continues Swartz. "Including a house for Henry Wilson of Studio Henry Wilson, with a 9-metre high glass block facade, a private bar with David Caon of Caon Design Office, and a studio apartment in Milan currently under construction.”
Eastop Architects
Echoing the sentiment of other award recipients, Liam Eastop of Eastop Architects who received the prize this year sums up the impact of the award on a fledgling design practice. "For us, the award has been really important. It has given confidence to both the team and our clients, and really helped to build trust. If your peers are recognising your work, it calibrates all of the assets and demonstrates that what you're talking about is actually the right direction."
Read the full interview with the 2021 AIDA Emerging Interior Design Pracitce winner Liam Eastop of Eastop Architects on More Space here.
Space Furniture is a proud sponsor of the annual AIDA Emerging Interior Design Pracitce prize that recognises the rising stars in the Australian design industry.
