Inside Story

Rachael Coghlan is the CEO of Craft ACT: Craft + Design Centre and Artistic Director of the annual and fastgrowing DESIGN Canberra Festival. She climbed two mountains in the past year: literally when she and her husband reached the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa, and metaphorically, when she graduated with her PhD from the Australian National University. She is a mid‐century modern architecture enthusiast who absolutely loves her hometown of Canberra and all things design. We get the inside story.

What is the first thing you do whenyou wake up?

If I’m going to go for a run before work it will be very early so I jump out of bed to turn off the alarm. (Otherwise I continue to doze while listening to Fran Kelly on Radio National.)

Tea or coffee?

Only tea. English Breakfast. Very hot. Well steeped. With Milk. Please…

Biggest Netflix binges?

Too many! House of Cards, Queer Eye, The Crown, Arrested Development, Ozark...

Canberra needs?

To appreciate how amazing our city is—we are one of the few designed capitals in the world, with a thriving design and craft community, where iconic midcentury modern architecture abounds. We can stop comparing ourselves with Sydney and Melbourne and celebrate the intrinsic built and natural beauty all around us.

Favourite place to unwind?

Our place at Lilli Pilli on the New South Wales South Coast with an open fire, a dirt track to the beach, some Parker furniture, an outdoor shower and views through the tall gums to the sea. It’s my happy place.

Reading?

I’ve just enjoyed a great summer of fabulous fiction. Especially enjoyed reading A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara and All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. Looking for recommendations for the next book!

Which suburb are you in and why?

Reid–I’ve lived in Canberra’s inner north for more than 20 years. I love the community, culture, history and proximity to Mt Ainslie, the city and the lake.

If you had $100 left in the bank,where would you spend it?

I would probably hang on to it for as long as I could if it was my last $100. (Yes, I was one of those kids who still had Easter eggs in September...) Then I’d work out how to make some more money to maintain my love of beautiful things (and milk chocolate).

Summer/winter?

Both! I love the extreme and dry heat of Canberra’s summer–which makes me welcome the icy freshness of our winters. For trail running, though, I’ll take winter any day.

Scent you are wearing?

Jo Malone Mimosa and Cardamom.

Labels you most covet?

Local Canberra designers of course! I’m currently coveting a parquetry side table by Chelsea Lemon, (more) jewellery by Alison Jackson and Phoebe Porter, a Hoshi armchair by Tom Skeehan... and I think I need another iconic F!NK jug (in red) for the coast.

Special secret skill no-ones knowsabout (until now)?

Umm. I’m sometimes asked to get the dancing started at parties.

Describe the house you have alwayspassed in Canberra but beenintrigued by.

I was obsessed with architect Neville Ward’s 1967 Rowe house in O’Connor for many years. When my children were babies we’d go for walks along the ridge and I’d admire the house. In 2016 I included Rowe house in the DESIGN Canberra festival program and got to see inside. It’s a masterpiece and still in largely original condition. •

WORDS Emma Macdonald

PHOTOGRAPHY Tim Bean