FADQ issue-5

QUARTERLY FITOUT – ARCHITECTURE – DESIGN

OCT-DEC

2014

team players Meet the dynamic duo behind Sybarite Architects european flavour Queensland café stands out with inspired French décor trend alert How work environments will look in the future about time How to manage time in business

NATIONAL S I G N B U I L D PL TT DY

graham@nationalsignbuild.com.au richard@nationalsignbuild.com.au

P h :0 2 9 6 7 8 9 5 4 0 F a x :0 2 9 6 7 8 9 5 4 1 www.nationalsignbuild.com.au

| contents |

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10

16

FITOUT

100% DESIGN

TRENDS

This Opus store features an open smart and innovative store design to improve customer experience

The latest trends and products seen at UK contemporary design event 100% Design

Business Interiors by Staples and Zwei discuss how work environments will look in the future

The role of RETAIL SIGNAGE

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22

28

Send the right message at the right moment. We realize the import decide what's meaningful about a brand and what's memorable.

DESIGN GURU

DESIGN

At Na�onal SignSTUDY Build, everyTOUR sign is built to be an impac�ul, accurat that when customers encounter brand, of it makes Australia’s new We showcasethesome the a compelling fi

We talk to Simon Mitchell and Torquil McIntosh from UK architecture company Sybarite Architects

Birkenstock headquarters has set new best hotels and spas from An unwavering, unfaltering, dedicated focus on helping to protect t benchmarks for sustainable around the world including an�cipa�ng issues and presen�ng you with workable solu�ons our office environments give you more �me Mexico, Norway Australia - �me for planning,and strategy and essen�ally, the

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DESIGN

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QUARTERLY FITOUT – ARCHITECTURE – DESIGN

FITOUT

06

STUDY TOUR

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100% DESIGN

10

FINANCE

34 OCT-DEC

2014

DESIGNER PROFILE TRENDS DESIGN GURU

14 16 18

SECURITY INDUSTRY NEWS ASOFIA & EVENTS

36 38 43

team players Meet the dynamic duo behind Sybarite Architects european flavour Queensland café stands out with inspired French décor trend alert how work environments will look in the future

Cover: Birkenstock Australia headquarters by Melbourne Design Studios

EDITORS NOTE

about time How to manage time in business

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MANAGING DIRECTOR Simon Grover PUBLISHER Mark Kuban EDITOR Marion Gerritsen marion@intermedia.com.au SALES MANAGER Kelly Wintle kwintle@intermedia.com.au GRAPHIC DESIGNER Alyssa Coundouris PRODUCTION MANAGER Jacqui Cooper FAD Quarterly is the official publication of the Australian Shop and Office Fitting Industry Association Limited.

Published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd, 41 Bridge Road, Glebe, NSW 2037 Australia, Telephone (02) 9660 2113 Fax (02) 9660 4419 On behalf of The Australian Shop and Office Fitting Industry Association, PO Box 6347, Kincumber NSW 2251.

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E T O N S R O T EDI There has been a lot of talk about the office of the future, with technology and sustainability concerns impacting our work environment and the way we do our job. For example, at the new Charter Hall headquarters more than 300 staff now work collectively across two levels in the new Activity Based Workspace. With this move, employees were inducted into this new way of working, part of a larger employee engagement piece.

At Melbourne Indesign 2014 Katherine Kemp of ZWEI Interiors Architecture discussed workplace trends of tomorrow. She said technology is allowing us more flexibility and there seems to be a shift from formal workplaces to a more relaxed and collaborative work space. Also, technology allows data to be stored ‘in the cloud’ and an increasing ability to logon in various locations. There seems to be a trend towards more mobile employees, either in or outside the office. You can read more about Kemp’s insights and how she sees the workplace of the future on page 16.

We also caught up with the dynamic duo behind Sybarite Architects, a UK based architectural studio that has executed over 600 global projects ranging from perfume bottles to skyscrapers both in Europe and globally. Simon Mitchell and Torquil McIntosh say there have been so many changes in architecture, especially retail architecture, with technology ie the internet changing the way we shop so much already, but this is only the start. They further discuss design influences and achievements on page 18.

UK design event, 100% Design, returned to Earls Court London with its 20th edition in September this year. One of the companies showing its products at the event was EBB & FLOW. Its Danish born founder Susanne Nielsen is a self-taught designer with 20 years working in the creative industries including fashion and interiors in cities such as London.

Read all about her successful rise to the top on page 14. For all those that could not attend the show, we have picked some of the most innovative products on display, starting on page 10.

It’s good to see that there are still Australian companies supporting local talent and product such as Something Beginning With (SBW). Founders and directors, Lisa Vincitorio and Laelie Berzon work directly with locally based Australian manufacturers to make the furniture—a Melbournebased manufacturing network provides SBW customers with access to furniture from existing ranges that can be adapted to their choice of colour, finish, size or specs. Read their story on page 20.

Again, we have some stunning fitouts and designs in this issue including a great new fitout for Optus retail stores undertaken by Greater Group as well as a new layout for Electus Distributions’ stores by SI Retail.

I hope you enjoy reading this issue of FAD Quarterly and I would love to hear what you think, so drop me a line when you have the chance.

Editor marion@intermedia.com.au

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| fitout | GREATER GROUP'S CHALLENGE WAS TO REDEFINE THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE IN THE OPUS RETAIL STORES, BRINGING TO LIFE THE NEW BRAND IDENTITY AND SHOWCASING THE IMPROVED CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE.

Yes you can

O

ptus launched a different look in the market with a new logo, a new feel and a new way of speaking to customers in July 2013. This was the beginning of something big to deliver on the promise of yes—the very commitment their business was built on.

The brief was to create an open smart and innovative store design where customers could experience the product through a series of zones. Greater Group conducted a series of site visits to observe

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and analyse the existing store experience and design, mapping the customer journey, zoning and category management. In addition it commissioned market research where customers and staff were interviewed to gain additional insights into perceptions, experience and how people shop.

As part of a national rebrand designed to celebrate the best of the past by redefining it for the future, Optus Singtel embarked on a redesign of its single biggest brand experience touchpoint... its

retail stores. The second-ranked mobile carrier worked with greater group to redefine the customer experience, introducing innovative design, interactive selling tools and communications to deliver an experiential store. As part of a 300 store rollout, Queen Street is the premier flagship in Brisbane and the largest in the network to date. “Greater Group is delighted with the success of the new Brisbane, Queen Street Mall store for Optus, the largest and most impressive example of the new concept so

SNAP SHOT Location: Queen Street, Brisbane QLD Client: Optus Singtel Fitout: Greater Group Design: Greater Group Joinery: Greater Group Builder: Mainbrace constructions (base build); RJR Shopfitting (fitout) Size of project: part of a 300 store rollout Flooring contractor: Trump Floorcoverings Flooring supplier: Tarkett Painting: All Aspect Painting Lighting/electrical: feature lighting by Coleman Group, remaining Aglo

far,” says creative director Bob Angley. “We recently delivered our 150th store for Optus and look forward to continuing the rollout throughout Australia.”

With the launch of the new brand Greater Group made the bold move to brand the store YES rather than the traditional Optus, leading with the attitude of the brand and promise to its customers first. With key brand principles of warm, simple and new, Greater Group created a design which was a quantum shift from the previous design and signified the changes inside and out.

A simple and open design was used enabling both self-navigation and consultation. Bold entry signage and lightboxes are used to highlight brand messages which flow to digital screens throughout the zones to promote offers. A modular wall merchandising system was created which reduced wet trades onsite during the fitout process and delivered full flexibility for merchandising changeout.

Further, a series of interactive zones have been created to showcase live devices and digital signage.

The new brand was lighter and brighter and to replicate this in the look and feel of the store all tables appear to float in the space through the use of clear glass bases, and bold blue circular ceiling light features have been introduced to draw people through the space.

Flexibility was key to enable Optus to keep the store experience fresh, so Greater Group designed a flexible wall display system to enable change of product, communications and merchandising including use of magnetic graphics and clip frame and signage systems. With a national rollout, modularity is key to its design solutions, all joinery created is designed to work across all five formats in the Optus network. ◗

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| fitout | THIS STORE’S LAYOUT NEEDED TO REPRESENT THE NEW BRAND AND AT THE SAME TIME STAY TRUE TO ITS ROOTS.

IN SEARCH OF

ADVENTURE

S

I Retail and Electus Distribution have had a strong partnership for many years so when the latter launched new retail brand Road Tech Marine (RTM), SI Retail was the obvious choice for the new store fitout.

Road Tech Marine is positioned in a niche market; it supplies parts and accessories for travellers who regularly hit the road or the water in search of adventure. It offers thousands of products making it the go to retailer in this retail segment. The store displays a large portion of the range in-store and the rest is available through catalogues and online.

The main challenge for the store layout was to be able to display a wide range of accessories while keeping it simple with a clean look. The aisles are wide and the gondolas light grey to add a sense of space. They also use colours to signal main categories so they avoid cluttering the store with signage.

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“The strength and flexibility of SI Retail’s metal work such as the gondolas allowed versatility and flow in our floor plans, which then became reality,” says Mark Rogers, merchandising and technical manager at Road Tech Marine.

“Its range of displays is the key factor for Road Tech Marine to present a shopping experience to the consumer and not just a store.”

SI Retail provided all the metal gondolas, garment racks, hooks and data strips, shopping baskets, wall strips, counter and customised displays.

“SI Retail’s product range and our account manager, Daniela, have been instrumental in the fitout and look of all Road Tech Marine stores throughout Australia,” says Rogers. ◗

SNAP SHOT Client: Road Tech Marine Location: Underwood, QLD Fitout: SI Retail

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| 100% design | KAZA Concrete www.kazaconcrete.com

BEYOND Studio www.100percentdesign.co.uk Concreate www.concreateflooring.co.uk

UK CONTEMPORARY DESIGN EVENT, 100% DESIGN, RETURNED TO EARLS COURT LONDON WITH ITS 20TH EDITION IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR. ON THE NEXT THREE PAGES WE SHOWCASE SOME OF THE FANTASTIC DESIGNS THAT WERE ON DISPLAY.

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DuPont de Nemours International Sarl www.dupont.com

Delightfull www.delightfull.eu Desinere desinere.com.sg

Pad Home www.padhome.co.uk

Coucou Manou www.coucoumanou.com

Korridor Designanxiety www.corridor-design.com

Mambo Factory LDA www.100percentdesign.co.uk

Format www.100percentdesign.co.uk

Cheil Industries www.staron-samsung.com

Faerid www.faerid.com

Lozi lozidesigns.com

FADQ 11

| 100% design |

DailyLife Lab www.dailylifelab.com

Solus Ceramics www.solusceramics.com

sandro Lopez www.sandrolopez.com Ekaterina Elizarova www.elizarova.com

Slowwood www.slowwoodnet.com

Nomadka www.100percentdesign.co.uk

Studio Brieditis & Evans www.100percentdesign.co.uk

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WestEndCarpets www.westendcarpets.co.uk

Jo Downs jodowns.com

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| designer profile | FADQ CATCHES UP WITH SUSANNE NIELSEN, FOUNDER OF EBB & FLOW, WHICH COMBINES OLD WITH MODERN, CELEBRATING UNIQUE ENDURING DESIGN IN LIGHTING AND DECORATIVE PIECES.

decoration & design

W

hen Danish born Susanne Nielsen set up EBB & FLOW, she had already forged quite a successful career in London working with marketing and concept development in the fashion industry and from 2000 building up the UK market for Danish label Lisbeth Dahl over a period of eight years.

This experience was the perfect basis to start hew own business and so she established Who Found Otto, a treasure trove of vintage furniture, architectural pieces, textiles and much more, found in Eastern Europe, restored to their former glory and sold to shops and businesses.

Especially vintage glass, like free-blown demijohn bottles used as lampshades, became a source of inspiration and slowly but surely the basis for creating her own lighting company centered around glass saw light in 2012.

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”The creative process is always there, but in order to put pen to paper, I need to clear my head as, I have to clear my desk, my head, and it starts from there,” she says. ”You just have to keep your eyes and your mind open all the time, I take pictures of the strangest things, and always keep a notebook in my bag.”

Based in Denmark again since 2009, Nielsen’s self-taught designer background is founded on 20 years working in the creative industries, and now forms the basis of the design philisophy that is EBB & FLOW. EBB & FLOW designs and produces lighting, and functional and decorative objects. Using classic British and Nordic style as a starting point combined with a passion for the basic materials glass, metal and textiles, the result is a style that aspires to bring lasting beauty and elegance to lighting, and using only genuine materials like glass, metal and textiles in

combination, it brings out the best in each. Nielsen’s style has a feminine air, as well as a softness in the choice of colours and shapes. ”My designs have to make a difference to the person that looks at it,” she explains. ”Lighting is an everyday object that can make you feel either warm and welcome in a room, or not, as the case may be.

Equally important is the real-factor of the lights—all our products are made by people, the glass is handblown, the fittings are assembled by hand, and all materials are made and produced in Europe, using materials like glass, metal and fabric.”

Nielsen says he is not particularly influenced by trends, rather she is influenced by colours and how they work with glass and lighting. ”I have a foot placed firmly in the classic world of vintage glass and colours and aim to translate this into modern design classics that will also be great to look at years from now. ”LED lighting is the single most exciting thing that has happened in lighting for years, and I am itching to work with this new technology, and turn its strengths into beautiful lights.”

EBB & FLOW is distributed in Australia by LA Lounge. ◗ ebbandflow.dk

FADQ 15

| trends |

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WITH TECHNOLOGY IMPACTING THE WAY WE WORK TODAY, BUSINESS INTERIORS BY STAPLES AND ZWEI SHOW HOW WORK ENVIRONMENTS WILL LOOK IN THE FUTURE.

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B

usiness Interiors by Staples and Zwei introduced a pop-up showroom at Melbourne Indesign 2014 in August to showcase workplace trends of today and the future.

Located at fortyfivedownstairs in Flinders Lane, the showroom included the launch of its Moment workstation, which was designed in collaboration with ThinkingWorks, and maximised the space to play homage to how work environments of the future will look.

The pop-up showroom also included some of Business Interiors

by Staples favourite pieces such as the Zintra blade system, Searl chairs and the Moment boardroom table, designed to provide synergy throughout the office.

Katherine Kemp of ZWEI Interiors Architecture took the hot seat on the Saturday morning to provide guests with an insight and discussion on workplace trends of tomorrow.

“The way we work is rapidly changing with technology allowing us more flexibility, and lifestyle choices are playing a larger part in what we value from a workplace,” she said. “There is a defined shift from formal workplaces to a more relaxed, collaborative work space valuing people, ideas and innovation.

“The workers of the future have a greater intergenerational mix with a

possible 50 year age gap between employees. They are sophisticated, educated, culturally diverse, globally focused, empowered and vocal.

“It is predicted that there will be a power shift away from the corporate organisation and towards the individual who has the ideas, connections, creativity and drive to create impact and change for the organisation.

“Working styles will continue to change, with technology allowing data to be stored ‘in the cloud’ and an increasing ability to logon in various locations. Workplaces will become places to connect, collaborate, work within a team and receive mentoring and assistance.”

Kemp also outlined how the new generation of workers value exciting, innovative spaces; recreational opportunities within the workplace; relaxed, collaborative spaces; coffee or food outlets within the building and introspective ‘quiet’ spaces for big thinking process.

For the workspace of the future, a series of work ‘hub’ locations (or mini-office environments) in relevant locations (eg transport hubs) allow mobile employees to utilise this without entering a traditional commercial building, depending on the role and function, further deconstructing the traditional workplace environment. ◗

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| design guru |

A

The

team

FORMED IN 2002 BY SIMON MITCHELL AND TORQUIL MCINTOSH, SYBARITE ARCHITECTS HAS EXECUTED OVER 600 GLOBAL PROJECTS RANGING FROM PERFUME BOTTLES TO SKYSCRAPERS BOTH IN EUROPE AND GLOBALLY. Why did you decide to start your own practice?

Simon Mitchell: Torqs was the only person Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d sketched with on the same piece of paper, I am left handed and he is right, so it just seemed like a great fit for us to work together.

What are your backgrounds?

Mitchell: I knew I wanted to be an architect from the age of nine and took my first opportunity to move away from Exeter, where I was born and raised, to attend the University of Greenwich. After qualifying I fulfilled my childhood ambition of working for Jan Kaplicky at Future Systems where I remained associate director for several years. I learnt so much but eventually knew it was time to move on. Having met Torquil at Future Systems I figured it was now or never to take the plunge and start my own practice.

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possible, allowing the store to take on several looks. It is considerations such as these that really enables us to offer value within our designs.

Do you feel more like architects or designers?

Mitchell & McIntosh: Our training is in architecture so we feel like architects. However, we want to create the most sententious spaces possible so in a sense we are very design led.

Torquil (Torqs) McIntosh: It was always clear I was going to be in a creative industry. Being dyslexic I found my talent in design and drawing and ran with it. I went on to study at the University of Edinburgh and the Beaux-Arts in Paris, gaining fluency in French. After qualifying in 1998 I worked with Denis Laming Architectes in Paris and Future Systems in London where I met Simon. I knew we’d make a good partnership and Sybarite was born.

Where did the name Sybarite [Architects] come from?

Mitchell & McIntosh: Sybarite (pronounced sib-uh-rahyt) means a person devoted to luxury and pleasure which we felt was synonymous with the designs we wanted to create. Twelve years on it still represents the essence of our work.

What are your design influences?

Mitchell & McIntosh: Design influences come from all over the place. Neither of us are particularly inspired by other architecture.

Instead we look at everyday objects

with a creative flair. Our dice house which we designed as a solution to the affordable housing crisis, came from playing backgammon and realising the dice is actually a beautiful form. Fly fishing, which is both our favourite past time, has been the root of so many ideas.

What is important for you in your design process?

Mitchell & McIntosh: Transparency and honesty is the key to seeing a project transpire from conception through to detail design. They are such small and simple responses but often so hard to achieve from the people around you. However, they are the key to keeping the whole process manageable and achievable.

How much do you think in terms of economy when designing?

Mitchell & McIntosh: The cost of retail architecture is limitless.

However, the key is to look for clever and unique ways to keep in line with budgets. We’re big proponents of prefabricating in order to keep costly installations to a minimum.

Also, we look to making fixtures and fittings as flexible and multiuse as

How do you start a creative process?

Mitchell & McIntosh: When working in retail architecture no design can begin until you have an in-depth understanding of the brand. The early creative process always begins with initial meetings where we try to consume as much information about the makeup of the brand, its heritage, its aspiration and so on.

The second step is to understand the products. We always ask for samples so we can have a real feel for them. It is also essential for considering the fixtures and fittings.

What has been the biggest change in the industry so far?

Mitchell & McIntosh: There have been so many changes in architecture. Although it feels like retail architecture has been particularly fast moving. The internet has changed the way we shop so much already but this is only the start. Trying to get retailers to understand this and take a punt on new technologies and embrace new ideas will be the biggest change and challenge we face.

What have been your highlights so far?

Mitchell: Starting Sybarite, nothing has beaten that leap of faith and I still love coming into work every day.

McIntosh: Still waiting for it. ◗ www.syb.co.uk FADQ 19

| design guru | MELBOURNE-BASED SOMETHING BEGINNING WITH INFUSES A UNIQUE DYNAMIC TO THE AUSTRALIAN DESIGN LANDSCAPE THROUGH ITS RANGE OF ADAPTABLE AND CUSTOMISABLE FURNITURE.

NOTHING IS THE SAME S

omething Beginning With (SBW) founders and directors, Lisa Vincitorio and Laelie Berzon, believe that no two products should be the same and they pride themselves in offering a range of products that’s constantly evolving and defies the notion of same old, same old.

To be part of the SBW family, a product needs to be timeless, simple and adaptable for the market. It must offer clients the ability to choose their preferred colour, finish and dimensions along with a leather or fabric of their liking for all upholstered products.

It must also be able to wear many hats functionally—a product not

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only stand out on its own, but fit in with other relevant pieces at the same time.

“It’s SBW’s collective strengths and team approach to the conceptualisation and development of each new product which gives us a very clear direction and knowledge of what works for the market,” Vincitorio says.

Through this approach with their clients across residential, retail, hospitality and workspace projects, SBW assists in the selection of adaptable new furniture that can meld into an existing space or allow the client to custom-make its own—tailoring of furniture from the current collection is one option,

while designing bespoke furniture from concept through to fruition to suit a client’s specific requirements is another.

SBW was formed in 2011 when industrial designer Vincitorio and visual artist Berzon combined forces with a vision to create a furniture range that merged high quality design, visual appeal and local manufacturing. They devoted a lengthy time to product development and collaboration resulting in SBW’s already extensive product collection.

Furniture in the SBW collection is as implied by the company name—“open to interpretation without any limitations,” explains

Vincitorio. That’s where working directly with locally based Australian manufacturers to make the furniture is a real coup.

A Melbourne-based manufacturing network provides SBW customers with access to furniture from existing ranges that can be adapted to their choice of colour, finish, size or specs. Clients also have direct dialogue with an industrial designer whose experience in product design and development is mightily handy for “re-engineering products to suit clients”.

SBW’s resulting products are coordinated to offer solutions to a wide range of interior environments. “Our eclectic mix of side, coffee, dining and bar tables, stools, chairs, easy chairs, ottomans, rugs and storage are designed to coordinate and work well together,” Vincitorio says.

Within the realms of SBW, Vincitorio and Berzon work closely to conceptualise each product.

From there Vincitorio takes care of design development and engineering, while Berzon adeptly manages sales and marketing.

Ever evolving as a company, SBW strives to unify the functional with the visually captivating—to create a unique and balanced product blend. The collection is a reflection of research, travel and passion for design, coupled with a conscientious understanding within today’s market. Attention to detail and consistent, dedicated and honest customer service are core to SBW’s philosophy.

With 17 product ranges part of the SBW portfolio and growing, backed by a decade of business and design experience and knowledge, this savvy and talented pair is making their mark as a credentialed and established Australian furniture brand. ◗ somethingbeginningwith.com.au

FADQ 21

| design |

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FADQ 23

| design | DESIGNED BY MELBOURNE DESIGN STUDIOS IN A NEGLECTED TWOSTOREY HERITAGE LISTED BUILDING, THIS HEADQUARTERS HAS SET NEW BENCHMARKS FOR SUSTAINABLE OFFICE ENVIRONMENTS AND THE FUTURE OF RETAIL.

B

irkenstock Australia engaged Melbourne Design Studios (MDS) to design its new headquarters in a beautiful, but derelict, two-storey heritage building in Clifton Hill. Over a hundred years ago, the building was—coincidentally—conceived for a boot manufacturer, but it had undergone lots of modifications over time, until it remained unoccupied in recent years.

MDS director Marc BernsteinHussmann says nature formed an integral part of the headquarters’ design. “The Birkenstock brand stands for sustainability, quality and craftsmanship,” he says. “We ensured

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Raising the these elements were reflected in every design choice for their new headquarters and retail experience.

“The main consideration was to create a healthy and beautiful environment that not only reflected the Birkenstock brand, but also lived and breathed it.”

There is a variety of areas that make up the headquarter premise— retail, e-tail, wholesale, offices and showrooms, workshop and warehouse (with a new mezzanine storey inserted) were all to be shown as different faces of the same company, identifiable but with a coherent sustainable design concept behind them.

Based on international research MDS specified selected plant species and made them an integral part of the design throughout the development—traditional blockout screens between desks were removed and instead each two desks share a slightly higher, doublesided, private locker unit with integrated planting. These plants work as 'air purifiers', cleansing the indoor air by removing unhealthy particles or low VOCs and improving indoor air quality.

There is also a reconfigured aeroplane trolley for each team member, holding their individual filing, stationery etc—when working at their desks, staff can dock on their individual trollies to the dedicated space at the planting/locker unit.

The open plan offices encourage team work instead of hierarchical structures. The layout allows employees to move around and to work in different positions at different places in the room. There is a separate 'quiet room' that can be used for private meetings or if someone needs to retreat with their work for a few hours.

The desks are laid out around a central 'island'. This area invites team members to congregate, for a team discussion or for a quick chat, over a freshly-made coffee at the

bar

barista end of the unit. This area can also be used as a high desk to encourage staff to work in different healthy positions rather than just having to sit at their desk all day.

The re-configured aeroplane trolleys are docked in under the central unit when not in use, or can be taken with them when staff work from a different space, allowing true flexibility.

One of the challenges is creating a 'green environment', which is much more difficult within an existing building than on a new-built. Together with the integrated indoor planting, the use of passive systems for heating, cooling, daylight strategies etc, the

Birkenstock building will become a truly sustainable headquarter.

“MDS capture the essence of what we stand for as a brand— quality, comfort and sustainability,” says a Birkenstock spokesperson.

“They’ve taken our requirements and suggestions and shaken them up and poured out amazing new ideas.

“We wanted a space to inspire our customers and encourage them to explore our store. Our new building does this. It draws you in and allows you to discover interesting aspects that reflect the Birkenstock brand.

The customer feedback we’ve received is 100 per cent positive.

“Our initial worry was that this project could potentially take up too much of our core time and energy, but MDS have guided us and managed the project very efficiently for us. We are very happy with the way Marc and his team have been looking after all aspects of the job for us, and we would strongly recommend them to anyone with a similar headquarters or fitout task.”

Recognising the effort, the Building Designers Association of Victoria (BDAV) awarded Birkenstock Australia’s new headquarters Building Design of the Year at its 19th annual BDAV Building Design Awards. ◗

FADQ 25

| design |

h c n e r F p u it

QUEENSLAND CAFÉ STANDS OUT WITH INSPIRED FRENCH DÉCOR.

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nfluenced by European design, French Twist Café in Indooroopilly Shopping Centre has achieved an elegant, rustic setting with the use of Boral Cultured Stone cladding.

“With the café located in the heart of one of Indooroopilly’s largest shopping centres, on-trend design was important to setting French Twist Café apart from other food outlets in such a busy environment,” explains Sultan Amasheh at Oliver & Co Design, which specialises in restaurant fitouts and designed French Twist Café.

“A well-designed space can mean the difference between customers walking past and coming in, and is vital to creating an enticing overall dining experience.

“We wanted to create a relaxing, yet prestigious experience and an interior that would transport patrons to Europe. We were seeking finishes that would add texture to the space, complement the colours of the classic brasserie fare and be a natural back drop for our French-inspired metal, wood and leather interiors.”

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Boral Cultured Stone can be integrated as a finish during building or renovation, and is available in a range of different sized rectangular veneers, which can be combined to create a personalised look. It is available in nine distinct ranges and a wide variety of colours and textures.

Boral Country Ledgestone in white oak was selected for the walls to add depth, complexity of colour and unique texture. The cleverly engineered stone-like cladding offers a subtle blend of colour that integrates seamlessly with the café’s other building materials and lighting.

Amasheh is very happy with the design, adding that the end-result is outstanding. “The stone walls are the distinguishing feature of the café’s design, and have a strong visual impact that brings the whole space together. The feedback has been overwhelming—customers and centre management regularly comment on how relaxing and inviting the space is,” he says.

“Boral was great to work with.

They recommended a preferred supplier who delivered the project on time and within budget, while complying with stringent and limiting site restrictions. This eliminated the stress on our team.” ◗

FADQ 27

| study tour | Right & below: The Thief, Oslo, Norway Architect/interior design: Ajas Mellbye/ Anemone Wille Vage; Hilde Larsen

SPA DAY WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;VE PICKED SOME OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR SPA DESIGNS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

Above & Left: QT Sydney, Australia Architecture: Woodhead Interior design: Nic Graham & Associates; Indyk Architects 28 |

Images courtesy of Design Hotels, all hotels are members of Design Hotels/for bookings visit www.designhotels.com

Below: The Dolder Grand, Zurich, Switzerland Architect/interior design: Foster and Partners/United Designers

Below: Pedras Salgadas Spa & Nature Park, Bornes de Aguiar, Portugal Architect/interior design: Luis Rebelo de Andrade/Arquitraco

Above two: Mainport, Rotterdam, the Netherlands Architect: MAS Architectuur Interior Design: Feran Thomassen FADQ 29

| study tour | SOME ARE DRIPPING IN HISTORICAL VALUE, OTHERS ARE THE MODERN EQUIVALENT. FADQ LOOKS AT SOME OF THE WORLD’S MOST FABULOUS HOTEL DESIGNS.

Miss Clara, Stockholm, Sweden Erected in 1910, the Ateneum girls’ school—located on Sveavägen boulevard in downtown Stockholm—was the ultimate achievement of the legendary Swedish architecture firm Hagström & Ekman. The Nobis Group has overseen the renovations of the masterful Art Nouveau building into Miss Clara. The 92-room hotel’s high ceilings and expansive windows highlight the rich history of its pedigree, while the vibrant restaurant and cutting-edge bar make this a hotspot for both guests and locals alike.

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Images courtesy of Design Hotels, all hotels are members of Design Hotels/for bookings visit www.designhotels.com

DOWNTOWN Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico A 17-room hotel nestled squarely in the middle of the Centro Histórico borough in Mexico City, DOWNTOWN Mexico fuses 300 year-old colonial grandeur with modern industrial edge. One of the last remaining examples of 17th century Mexican viceregal style, this former palace has retained its royal elegance in the form of modern accoutrements by Cherem Serrano Arquitectos, and the expansive roof terrace with views of the surrounding buildings allows guests to travel back in time to a more kingly era.

Hotel Greif, Bolzano, Italy Built in the 16th century, Hotel Greif has long been a place for travellers to rest their weary heads. Looking out onto the ancient town of Bolzano, this 33-room boutique hotel has been elegantly redesigned by famed Viennese architect Boris Podrecca. While the interiors are bathed in contemporary artistry, the original walls have been preserved and celebrated while still blending harmoniously with the hotel’s modern concept of a guesthouse.

FADQ 31

| study tour |

The Pure, Frankfurt, Germany Frankfurt has long been known as the financial capital of Germany, but its burgeoning cultural scene has earned it the moniker â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Mainhattanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;a reference to both its riverside location and lifestyle. The Pure and its 50 rooms are at the heart of it all, welcoming for an intimate and sleek urban escape. From the fashionforward design of marble-meets-leather, to the club package offer of sparkling wine and VIP club entrance, the hotel is a perfect gateway for all the city has to offer.

Hotel Bachmair Weissach, Lake Tegernsee, Germany Bavarian authenticity and local heritage blend with simple elegance and countryside cool, creating a lifestyle resort for business and leisure. Close to Munich, on the shores of Lake Tegernsee in Rottach-Egern, this majestic alpine beauty, built in 1862 and consisting of several buildings surrounded by parkland and crisscrossed by a mountain brook, has been restored to its former glory. Bavarian traditions are given a contemporary facelift, with pine ceilings and wall panels, tables made from slices of tree trunks, velvet chairs, and a dramatic fireplace on a black wall, backlit by a sultry red light.

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OD Port Portals, Mallorca, Spain A sensational landing spot for island hoppers, the sleek OD Port Portals will offer 365 days of exclusivity perfectly situated near the luxurious yacht harbour of Puerto Portals. The architectural and design studios of Victor Rahola and Mayte Matutes created the sleek architecture and its naturally illuminated interiors for a refined appearance that harmonises with the elements of the island of Mallorca. Together with a selection of design furnishings and textiles made exclusively for the hotel, the contemporary design concept concurs with Mallorcan influences, and is complemented by state of the art technology and sustainable features. The main objective of Victor Rahola and Mayte Matutes was to create an inspiring space whose sensual Mediterranean atmosphere benefits every guest.

Natural materials in combination with chalk-white are typical of Mediterranean architecture, along with spaces that produce playful variations of light and shadow.

FADQ 33

| finance | MANAGING TIME SEEMS TO BE TRICKY FOR MOST BUSINESSPEOPLE AND THERE ARE FIVE KEY AREAS TO LOOK AT TO GET THINGS BACK ON TRACK.

Out of time Words by Sue Hirst, co-founder and director CFO On-Call

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ime management often crops up as an issue for businesspeople. They say “I just don’t have enough time to get everything done”. They complain of trying to do everything and getting staff to help. If time is limited, what we have to work on is the stuff we need to get done in that time. It’s about having a clear understanding of what that stuff is, or should be, and prioritising objectives and actions.

The best way to prioritise is to look at it from five key areas: 1. The products and/or services you sell 2. How you market and sell 3. How you operate and finance your business 4. How you manage staff 5. How you manage customer service

‘where do my customers hang out’? For example, the aged market are reading newspapers, whereas the youth market spend most of their time online, so you need to market appropriately to each. There are systems available for handling marketing automation.

Once set up they create a momentum of their own—I’m referring to digital marketing and getting messages out via social media and driving traffic to your website.

Once you’ve got interest from a customer you need them to buy. Some sales are immediate such as retail, while some take longer including a service or project.

Consider what’s involved in the process and document it, so others can perform some or all of it. There are cost effective systems to help you systemise the process and improve sales conversion rates.

Let's discuss each and ways to be effective.

3. How you operate and finance your business Once you’ve made a sale, how are you going to deliver to your customer? A documented system helps you and staff get it right consistently. This saves time and money, avoiding rework and returned goods. A system creates efficiencies in the time taken to get jobs done, allowing more work to be done and better profit and staff satisfaction. Systems are available—in the cloud—that provide a framework for systemising operations in many different industries.

Financing business is one of the biggest areas of stress. Cash flow is often a ‘pain point’. Having a thought out finance plan is critical. Some key numbers to manage are: • The direct cost of your product or service i.e. what it costs to get it ready for sale • The right price to charge to be profitable, whilst remaining competitive • Price increase or decrease—keeping your price right

1. The products and/or services you sell What is it that you offer to the market that solves a problem or creates a benefit? By having a clear understanding you can articulate and document it, so others such as staff can understand. They can then provide input into how it can be delivered effectively and improved. Getting knowledge out of your head and into a documented system saves time. You don’t have to repeat things—you can point to the system for guidance. A system has the benefit of increasing business value, as everything isn’t in your head.

2. How you market and sell Once you know what your product or service is and how it benefits customers, you need to articulate the benefit and create interest. The key issue here is what is the best means of reaching your market i.e. ask yourself

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• • • • •

to maintain a profit and understanding the impact of discounting on profit.

Overheads such as rent, wages, IT costs, etc.

Number of days customers take to pay Number of days to pay suppliers Number of days stock sits on the shelf pre-sale Number of days jobs/projects are in progress pre invoicing

4. How you manage staff A system to proactively manage staff saves stress. People often struggle to attract the right staff. If you want to achieve this you have to be an ‘employer of choice’. You need to project a professional image and hire, manage and fire people properly. It starts with job descriptions, so everyone knows what’s expected. Proactive HR management helps to improve staff motivation. There

are HR management systems available that guide you through the process and to be compliant. This helps to avoid unhappy staff and unfair dismissal claims.

5. How you manage customer service Last but not least are your customers. You need to look after them well, so they will not only come back and buy, but refer you to others. This is more critical than ever due to internet based feedback via sites such as Tripadvisor.

You need a system for looking after customers’ experience to ensure it is consistently good. This saves time and money dealing with complaints and customers who refuse to pay—plus marketing required to get more new customers to replace the unhappy ones.

If the things you’re spending time on aren’t progressing the activities mentioned above, perhaps you should stop doing them. ◗

FADQ 35

| security |

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Lockout THE LANDMARK HOTEL SPA AND HEALTH CLUB TAKES CONTROL OF ITS LOCKERS WITH KITLOCK TO SECURE THEIR CHANGING ROOM FACILITIES.

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he Landmark Hotel is one of the finest five-star hotels in London. With its distinctive style and ambience, it combines classic British elegance and grandeur with a wide range of deluxe facilities. Guests can relax and enjoy a full range of treatments at the hotel’s luxurious Spa and Health Club. Its facilities include a 15-metre chlorine-free swimming pool, state-of-the-art gym, sauna and steam room. As well as appealing to members from the local area, its central location makes it a popular choice for tourists.

The Spa and Health Club regularly attracts over 1,200 visitors per week.

Before installing KitLock on the lockers in the Spa and Health Club changing rooms, guests would often ‘claim’ the lockers as their own for the duration of their stay, says Joey Cererio, manager at The Spa and Health Club. “We’d found that regular guests, especially ones using the facilities over a number of days, would take the locker key away with them,” she explains.

“Not only did this limit the number of lockers available for the other guests to use, also, when we checked the lockers at the end of the day, it was impossible for us to identify whether a locker was in use or if the key was genuinely lost. It was becoming very difficult to monitor.”

With only 40 lockers for the guests to use, the Landmark Hotel Spa and Health Club decided to

remove the key-operated locks and replace them with a keyless alternative instead.

KitLock 1200 is a durable electronic lock suitable for securing lockers. Fitted in place of a standard cam lock, it provides simple keypad access without the hassle of keys, coins or tokens. Instead, access is gained by entering a four-digit code on the keypad. Guests simply enter a user code, then ‘lock and go’.

A KitLock can also be opened using a ‘technician code’. This code will open the lock without erasing the user code and is particularly useful if guests forget which locker they are using and staff need to access several lockers to find the right one.

“Using a technician code we are now able to open all the lockers at the end of each day and check that property is not left inside overnight,” she says. “With Kitlock this process is easy and it enables us to ensure that all of the lockers are free for use again in the morning.”

“From a security perspective, we were always concerned that if keys went missing they may be copied and used to gain illegal entry at a later date. With a keyless solution, we no longer worry about that particular issue. And from a practical point of view, the guests no longer have to carry a key round with them while they are enjoying the facilities.

What’s more, we don’t have to pay to replace the lost keys.” ◗ www.codelocks.com.au

FADQ 37

| news |

Hong Kong restaurant scoops top design award From 60 nominations worldwide, the best interior of 2014 has been named at an international awards competition and festival in Singapore—MOTT32 by Joyce Wang Studio. The project was recognised by the judges for its dramatic and successful transformation from a basement in Hong Kong into one of the city’s best and most beautiful eating destinations.

Located in a former storage facility, which once housed expensive family heirlooms for wealthy Chinese immigrants, MOTT32 is now an atmospheric underworld dining experience.

Taking inspiration from the heritage of the site, the restaurant is littered with forgotten heirlooms, Chinese propaganda and industrial materials doubling as furniture and light fittings.

Joyce Wang Studio took a decaying space and combined traditional Chinese décor with industrial design elements, already popular in New York and London. Located underground, with no natural light, the designer embraced the constraints of the venue and used them to create a theatrical and exclusive

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experience as guests are guided downstairs through a long, snaking corridor.

Inside the restaurant, bricks twist and turn and form shapes inspired by wind patterns. Light fittings are housed in metal mesh cages and former vaults become exclusive booths. Delicate detailing combines with raw materials, such as concrete and metals, to create a bold design that sees Western and Eastern influences combine.

“Winning the World Interior of the Year will mean so much to the team,” says Joyce Wang. “We are

a practice of 10 people and the project was very personal to the entire team. It was a Hong Kong project, it explored Hong Kong culture both past and present, which makes the project such a special one and winning this award even better.”

The judges came to a unanimous decision to select MOTT32 as the winner from nine category winners. “Joyce Wang Studio took a constraining location and maximised what was possible, using the existing structure to create a sophisticated and detailed project,” says David Kohn, winner of last year’s World Interior of the Year award and judge for this year.

Pernilla Ohrstedt, the designer behind the Coca-Cola Beatbox —the interactive pavilion on the London Olympic Park—and judge of the award added, “a wonderful series of rooms with a rich texture and narrative, creating a movie-like and theatrical environment for the diners. From small details to the complete design, everything has been thoughtfully considered and was a stand-out candidate for this important award.” www.joycewang.com

A new way of working Charter Hall, one of Australia's largest managers of office, retail and industrial properties, has moved into new headquarters at 1 Martin Place, Sydney, in the heart of the CBD. Over 300 Charter Hall staff now work collectively across two levels in the new Activity Based

Workspace, designed by BVN architects. With this move, Charter Hall employees were inducted into this new way of working, part of a larger employee engagement piece.

Its environmental design practice, Urbanite, was commissioned to highlight Charter Hall’s 'sleek, sophisticated and edgy’ personality through environmental graphics and signage. The team were briefed to build on BVN’s ‘industrial sophistication’ scheme, drawing on a range of material and graphics to enliven the space and provide uniqueness.

Urbanite used the vernacular of the Charter Hall logo as a foundation for the graphic approach, to connect all touch points. A grid was developed around the idea of multiples, reflecting a diverse workforce that brings the right mix of ingredients to Charter Hall.

Underpinning these multiple elements is a grid created from the forms of the brand mark.

The grid and facets were explored across ceiling frescoes, stair features, wall installations, and to activate rooms.

A reception light installation was developed in partnership with Arup to create a sculptural point of interest, and interpretation of the brand identity. www.charterhall.com.au

The future of advertising W & Co has won the distribution rights to a new technological breakthrough in 3D light boxes that doesn’t require glasses.

A super bright LED light box is used to backlight a special 3D image that can be viewed without glasses for a display where images appear to float in front of the screen. While optimum viewing distance is three metres head on, the infinite depth allows angled views to be just as stunning.

The viewer can fully immerse themselves in the 3D image and most people side step to capture the different viewing angles, this obviously lends well to advertising

in places such as shopping centres as it is almost guaranteed to stop the passing shopper.

With the explosion of 3D televisions and movies in the last two years and their ever growing popularity it was only a matter of time before 3D was used in advertising. The only obstacle was the 3D glasses. Now that this obstacle has been removed it opens up a whole new generation of advertising possibilities where the advertised image will physically stop customers in their tracks to wonder at the truly amazing 3D graphics. www.w-co.co.uk

FADQ 39

| news |

Westfield Garden City officially opens its doors Westfield Garden City, the first redevelopment to be completed under the newly formed Scentre Group, is now open for business with the final stage recently being finished.

Westfield Garden City is now 140,000 square metres, increasing by almost 50 per cent, with over 430 major and specialty retailers, over 100 of which are new to the centre since the redevelopment commenced in June 2013.

Leading Australian and international retailers opening in the centre’s new fashion precinct include Myer, with Myer CEO, Bernie Brookes and ambassador, Jennifer Hawkins joining Scentre Group CEO, Peter Allen and Lord Mayor, Graham Quirk in official opening celebrations at Westfield Garden City.

New retailers including Nine West, Seed, French Connection, Blue Illusion, Lonsdale, RM Williams will join David Jones, Target, K-Mart, Big W, Woolworths, Coles, Event Cinemas, Harvey Norman, two new dining precincts and an upgraded fresh food offer.

Scentre Group CEO, Peter Allen, says the redevelopment is an example of the company delivering true innovation in retail

and recognising the changing needs of the local community.

“The new Westfield Garden City offers an entirely new shopping, entertainment, social and dining experience for the community in Brisbane’s south.

“We are pleased to work with quality Australian and international retailers to create a world-class shopping centre, designed with the local community and the relaxed Queensland lifestyle in mind.

“Undoubtedly, the new Westfield Garden City is now a destination. It brings the best fashion, exciting new entertainment including new interactive digital installations and two unique food destinations; the outdoor, resortstyle Town Square and 8 Street, an Asian laneway filled with hawker-style operators.

“This redevelopment now consolidates the centre’s position as one of Brisbane’s most important retail destinations.

Situated in a major commercial centre at one of the city’s busiest transport hubs, Westfield Garden City with over 500,000 people in its trade area has one of the largest shopper bases amongst Westfield centres in Australia.

“The redevelopment helps us meet the growing demands of the community and will strengthen its appeal to the local Brisbane market.

“The opening also marks an important milestone for Scentre Group, being the first redevelopment completed since the Group was formed in June 2014,” he adds.

In addition to being a central hub for residents of Brisbane’s south, the redevelopment has generated approximately 3,750 new jobs from commencement of construction through to opening.

The redevelopment also creates an additional 1,400 car park spaces, along with the existing bus interchange making it more convenient for shoppers to visit the centre. www.westfield.com.au/gardencity

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RMIT students dominate Fringe Furniture Awards Students, graduates and academics from the Industrial Design and Furniture Design programs at RMIT University have taken home every award at the Fringe Furniture forum.

The open-access event, held by the Melbourne Fringe, displayed more than 90 furniture, lighting and interior object designs from local emerging and established designers under the theme of Living Traces.

All five award winners in 2014 came from the RMIT industrial and furniture design community.

Sydney-based industrial design graduate Max Harper won the Sustainable and Waste-Wise Design Award while sessional lecturer Jonathan Ben-Tovim, of Northcote, won the Best Lighting Design Award.

Fitzroy resident Chris Goff, a furniture design and industrial design graduate, says winning the Emerging Designer Award for his piece Uragaeshi chair was an honour.

“It’s always great being involved in industry events because it gives you a chance to meet other designers and make connections with people,” he says.

Industrial design student Jonathan Ho, of Southbank, was awarded the Most Market Ready Design Award while furniture design student Mechelle Shooter, of Carlton North, received the Best Student Design award.

Shooter says her studies at RMIT had been invaluable in giving her an understanding of industry processes and developing her design style.

“It has been a great way for me to meet other inspiring design students, with whom I hope to collaborate with in future projects,” she says.

Liam Fennessy, industrial design program manager, says RMIT’s success was a testament to the quality of its industrial and furniture design programs and staff.

“We’re really lucky to have Fringe Furniture as an avenue for designers to explore and showcase their ideas in a forum that is inclusive of seasoned professionals and students alike,” he says.

New acrylic range for retail & design applications Perspex Naturals is a new cast acrylic range from Perspex inspired by the simple beauty of nature, designed for retail and interior design applications.

Developed from leading colour trends research and trends which are visibly beginning to filter down through to acrylic applications, Perspex Naturals simulates the earthy tones and velvety texture of natural stone.

And with the added feature of a double sided matt texture, Perspex Naturals meets the demand for simple, natural looking materials that perform to high standards in demanding environments.

It is the perfect material to bring clean simple lines and a natural look to any application.

From retail point of purchase to interior design, room partitions, furniture, artworks and architectural features, whether the aim is to create classic or contemporary design, Perspex Naturals will work.

Perspex Naturals offers real benefits to designers including textured surface finish with the aesthetic appeal of stone; available in a range of six standard colours; strong, durable and hard wearing; easy to shape and style; retains matt surface texture after thermoforming; light weight and easy to install; Perspex colour matching service available; 10 year guarantee and is 100 per cent recyclable.

Perspex Naturals is available in a collection of six colours, offering a choice of pale, mid and deep tones to create harmonising colour combinations, which complement other design materials such as wood, metal and textiles. www.perspex.com

FADQ 41

| news |

Maharam and Paul Smith collaborate with Carl Hansen & Søn To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of renowned Danish designer Hans J. Wegner, Paul Smith and Maharam are collaborating with Carl Hansen & Søn—the world’s largest manufacturer of furniture designed by Hans J. Wegner— on a limited edition collection of some of Wegner’s most iconic works. Applying the latest textiles designed by Paul Smith in collaboration with Maharam, Big Stripe and the new Stripes by Paul Smith, to the iconic Shell Chair and other furniture from Carl Hansen & Søn gives a bold injection of colour to these classic Wegner designs.

With a pioneering and creative modernist aesthetic, Wegner is best known for his idiosyncratic

chair designs, such as the Wishbone Chair. Created in 1950 this piece, with its characteristic Y-shaped back support, became one of his greatest successes; other definitive designs include the minimalist CH28, the CH163 sofa and contemporary classic, the Wing Chair.

Paul Smith has personally selected his favourite classic Hans J. Wegner pieces to launch

a capsule collection that gives the designs an injection of vibrancy, upholstered in Big Stripe and new colours of Stripes by Paul Smith. Designed by Paul Smith in collaboration with Maharam, these two worsted wool textiles explore stripes at dramatically different scales, conveying Paul Smith’s imaginative approach to colour and proportion. paulsmith.co.uk

EDA expands into Asia and appoints new COO Recently, EDA has bolstered its leadership team to build on the company’s further expansion into the Asian market with managing director John Atwill and newly appointed COO John Kerby.

As the owner and managing director of EDA Australasia, Atwill has over 30 years’ experience in point of sale and retail merchandising solutions.

Atwill is currently enjoying harnessing EDA’s strong knowledge and reputation in Australia to expand into the overseas market. “Expanding into Asia was a natural evolution for the company following the success of our new office in Shanghai last year,” he says.

“Part of our continued success is due to our ability to deliver comprehensive tailor-

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made solutions to retailers and brands, enabling us to maintain long-standing partnerships across a diverse range of industries and companies. As a full service company, EDA is truly a one-stop shop for global brands delivering unrivaled consistency and complete quality control.”

EDA also recently appointed Kerby to the role of COO. He brings to the role extensive experience in helping companies navigate successfully through a period of growth, which EDA is currently undertaking.

His background is primarily in the manufacturing sector, having worked with leading niche corporations including well-known Australian transport company, Custom Coaches.

Kerby will play a lead role in the management of the EDA team and the implementation of EDA’s vision to become a major force in POS in Australia and throughout Asia.

“My major focus for EDA is to take advantage of the big opportunities in the market and expand our product offering into Asia. We are planning a number of innovative projects which I’m eager to bring to life,” he says.

EDA’s expertise spans the beauty, fragrance, health, alcohol and technology sectors, with long term partnerships with premium global brands, such as Coty, L’Oreal, Procter & Gamble, Moet & Hennessy, Wesfarmers and the Coles Group. www.edaaustralasia.com

| asofia |

Industry secures collaborative hub At a time when things arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t looking all that rosy for Australian manufacturing, it is pleasing to see that the collective involvement of various associations from across the furniture, cabinets and joinery (FCJ) industry has resulted in the establishment of an FCJ Hub under the META (Manufacturing Excellence Taskforce of Australia) banner.

Just over three years ago ASOFIA linked up with other like minded associations including the Furniture Industry Association

and compliance regime, skills development and training, and supply chain efficiencies.

The strategic plan is designed to foster industry growth through measures that encourage FCJ companies to embrace design and innovation, build domestic markets, develop an export culture, accelerate the uptake of latest technologies, attract more highly skilled and highly trained workers and embody worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best practice in business management.

Securing a FCJ Hub under META is a significant achievement

of Australia, Australian Window Association, Cabinet Maker and Designers Association and the Australian Woodworking Industry Suppliers Association to form the FCJ Alliance.

Since that time the group has developed and presented an industry strategy to governments, oppositions and cross benchers which focus around four key areas aimed at improving the plight of Australian manufacturers.

They include design and innovation, regulatory framework

for the group and will hopefully lead to improved manufacturing opportunities for members of each of those associations involved within the FCJ Alliance.

META is a collaborative network of engaged manufacturers and researchers working together to advance

manufacturing. It is industry-led with a goal to accelerate growth and increase the efficiency and competitiveness of Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s manufacturing industry globally.

META facilitates national collaboration, knowledgesharing and problem-solving across companies, researchers, industries, states and disciplines.

It connects companies with the expertise, knowledge and ideas to assist them to grow and be more globally competitive.

Importantly, META allows manufacturing businesses to access and contribute to a valuable nation-wide pool of knowledge, expertise and relationships that can help their enterprises but are otherwise not readily accessible to the majority of SMEs. Companies that are META members self-organise around specific collaboration hubs (information or expertise sharing) or projects (specific initiatives), with META facilitating the process, ensuring the right companies, researchers and academics are engaged. Uniquely, companies that engage with META pay no membership fees.

They actively participate by contributing their time and their commitment to share knowledge, expertise and experience enables them to join META to access its resources and services.

META, together with the Furniture Cabinets Joinery Alliance Limited (FCJA) will officially launch its new Collaboration Hub in October, 2014.

FADQ 43

| asofia |

Project Management Course 2014 Course Information

DEVELOPED BY ASOFIA IN CONJUNCTION WITH HOLMESGLEN INSTITUTE OF TAFE

ASOFIA Online Project Management Course Over the past decade ASOFIA members have become increasingly aware of the issues the industry will face into the future, arising from a general tightening of government legislation, formal contracts and the increasing demands of clients for services, which include the disciplines of planning, budgeting, project control and financial reporting.

In response to these changing needs of the industry, the time demands upon key staff members and significant technological

advances, ASOFIA has created online training for Certificate IV in Project Management.

Delivered through Holmesglen, the course involves self-paced study using specially developed learning materials that have been specifically developed for the shop and office fitting industry.

Participants must complete nine modules within the space of 18 months to complete the certificate and gain the qualifications.

To learn more and register for the course visit www.asofia.com.au

ASOFIA launches 2014-2015 awards season ASOFIA has recently launched its members awards programs for 2014-2015. They include ASOFIA’s Interior Fitout Awards program sponsored by Laminex Australia and the association’s Thomas Brown National Shopfitting Apprentice of the Year Awards.

The winners of both hotly contested awards programs will be announced at the association’s next national conference in Hobart in May 2015.

The association’s Fitout Awards program recognises and rewards the extraordinary work of members across a range of interior fitout areas. The program covers not only your typical everyday quality fitouts seen and experienced within shopping malls or in strip shopping but also includes excellence in commercial fitouts, food and restaurant fitouts, health and beauty and medical fitouts. Special recognition awards are also on offer for the Australian Made Category and Outstanding Use

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of Sponsors Products including Laminex and Polyflor products.

In all, in excess of 20 awards are on offer and this year’s awards program is expected to attract a record number of entries.

Members can access the entry form via the ASOFIA website www.asofia.com.au, with the closing date for entries nominated as just prior to Christmas.

The National Apprentice of the Year Awards program is another highly sought after

awards program with nominations open to apprentices of members involved across any trade sector which services the shopfitting and interior fitout industry. The standard of entries attracted over the past years has been quite exceptional and this year’s nominations are expected to be no different. Members can access the nomination form via the ASOFIA website www.asofia. com.au with the closing date for nominations 28 November 2014.

Asofia events

30 November 2014 Christmas function

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Gerard Ryan ASOFIA Po Box 6347 KINCUMBER NSW 2251 P: 02 4369 0055

VIC

SA

31 October 2014 Golf day

21 October 2014 General meeting

WA

QLD

28 November 2014 Christmas function

NSW

NATIONAL

27 October 2014 Annual general meeting

Contact

5 December 2014 Christmas race day 17 November 2014 AADIF general meeting & AGM

F: 02 4369 0555 E: national_office@asofia.com.au W: www.asofia.com.au NATIONAL PRESIDENT Darren Doggett Clarke & Doggett Building Concepts P: 03 8873 2788 M: 0419 500 022 E: darren@clarkeanddoggett.com STATE PRESIDENTS NSW - Natalie Cooper Cooper Neon P: 02 9905 6044 M: 0412 601 150 E: natalie@cooperneon.com.au QLD – Geordie Skinner

For all event details please contact ASOFIA on (02) 4369 0055 or national_office@asofia.com.au

Positive Energy Australia

Other events

M: 0400 665 525

◗ 27-30 October 2014 Hong Kong International Lighting Fair www.hktdc.com ◗ 18-20 November 2014 Australian International Furniture Fair, Melbourne informaexhibitions.com.au ◗ 23-26 November 2014 Russian Architecture Salon, Moscow eng.crocus-expo.ru ◗ 14-16 January 2015 Design Lighting Tokyo www.reedexpo.co.jp/en

P: 1300 665 500 E: geordie.skinner@positivenergy.com.au

◗ 21-23 January 2015 Surfaces, Las Vegas www.hanleywood.com

WA - Jason Bridges R&J Bridges Electrical Service P: 08 9301 5992 M: 0419 046 342

◗ 4-6 February 2015 Décor + Design, Sydney www.decordesignshow.com.au

E: info@bridgeselectrical.com.au

◗ 10-12 February 2015 Surface Design, London www.montex.co.uk

P: 08 8277 5600

◗ 18-21 March 2015 Made Expo, Italy www.madeexpo.it ◗ 3-7 May 2015 Lightfair International, New York www.lightfair.com

SA – Josh Kelly Winkle Shopfitters M: 0417 821 177 E: josh@winklegroup.com.au National major sponsor

National Principal Partners

FADQ 45

Creating solutions for your business from design through to final construction Combining expertise and specialised manufacturing processes, O.M.A. can design, prototype and produce to exact client specifications. Our strength is an ability to take your ideas from concept through to design and manufacturing.

Our team are constantly researching the use of new materials, local and international design trends and new construction methods.

We also offer a range of eco-friendly products, indicated by our O.M.A. GREEN logo. As the worldwide push for increased sustainability continues, O.M.A. plan to remain at the forefront of greener product manufacturing and welcome clients with the same environmental concerns to consider the options available when it comes to retail fit-out.

IDW Mannequins Showcases & Glass Cabinets Counters & Reception Desks Novofibre: Ecological Straw Constructed Panels Custom Design & Manufacture Plankwall Display Systems Point of Sale & Accessory Displays Eco Friendly Options Available

O.M.A Shopfitting Systems Pty. Ltd. 16 Kearney Street Bayswater VIC 3153 t. 03 9720 2488

f. 03 9720 2499

www.omashopfittings.com.au