Kennedy Nolan’s director of architecture, Adriana Hanna is a self-confessed furniture fanatic. She understands the value of quality furniture and its ability to enhance the visual appeal of a built form. Here, she shares the top five furniture pieces that have left memorable impressions on her.
An artisan-made theme recurs throughout, with many of her chosen pieces bearing a resemblance to 20th-century architectural structures. Each furnishing is a celebration of craftsmanship – emphasizing an appreciation for the skill and dedication required to handmake an item.
Oblique Ceramic Coffee Table by Don Cameron
The modernist references to brutalist architecture, combined with the tactile and textured quality, give the ceramic composition an architectural feel.
During a recent Melbourne Design Week event, the robust table caught her eye. “It reminds me a bit of Jørn Utzon’s work. It’s very much of another era. We haven’t seen many contemporary ceramic pieces produced locally in this way. This table has taken time and consideration. It’s very three-dimensional and dynamic,” Adriana said.
“As much as I adore timber, I think ceramic is much more of a tactile material. There’s definitely an element of the handmade when it comes to ceramics, in terms of the glazing, forming and firing. There are so many layers of detail that go into creating ceramics and I always admire the craftsmanship behind the finished object or product. There’s something about ceramics that gives the impression it would withstand several lifetimes,” she continued.
“Kennedy Nolan as an architecture firm is drawn to modernist references, we’re really attracted to 20th-century design. We actively try to integrate ceramics into our architectural works through materials such as Japanese ceramic tiles.
“What’s intriguing with all these pieces is that there is perpetuity in them. They possess a timeless quality and could be handed down for generations. They’re not something you’d tire of.”
