GRAND DESIGNS WRAP UP

OK, just one last photo before we move on from Grand Designs Australia (until next year). I couldn't go without posting this photo that I had taken with Kevin and Peter at breakfast at Tusculum. A nicer pair of guys you couldn't hope to meet.

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN TALKS

Today was the final in the series of talks at Grand Designs Australia Live, where I was part of a panel of speakers including designer, Emine Mehmet, Beatrice Rankin from Hemp Gallery andNeale Stewart from Dulux.

The topic was Sustainable Design: Health, Wealth and Conscience. What a topic?!! So much to talk about and often, quite controversial. We all hope that the audience went away inspired and somewhat more enlightened about Environmentally Sustainable Design.

What is environmentally sustainable design anyway? I think this rather sums it up:

Environmentally sustainable design is the philosophy of designing products, buildings, services and systems to comply with the principles of economic, social, and ecological sustainability. That is to eliminate completely the negative impact on the environment that human beings create whether it's the buildings we build, the products we manufacture, the food we grow and just the way in which we live.

It's not often an easy subject to talk about but the more people we can educate and the more we can show that you don't have to return to the dark ages to live more sustainable lives, the better for us all.

If you want to know more about environmentally sustainable and passive solar design, email me at kate@katestjames.com.au No SPAM please!

GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA MAGAZINE MEETS PETER MADDISON

Last week Peter Maddison was in town for the launch of Grand Desgns Live along with UK TV show presenter, Kevin McCloud. Not only did I meet them both at a media launch last week, I also had the pleasure of joining Peter for dinner, with my art director, Kate Podger on Thursday night.

Peter is a most amiable guy and as you can see from the photos, we enjoyed each other's company!

I hope you manage to get to the show at Darling Harbour. Today is the final day so if you haven't visited yet, get on down. I'll be speaking on the Design Stage at 2.30pm about Sustainable Design: Health, Wealth and Coscience.

See you there!

GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA LIVE

Come down to Darling Harbour next Friday 21st, Saturday 22nd and/or Sunday 23rd October and visit me at the Grand Designs Australia magazine stand. You can also attend one or all of the seminars at which I'll be a panellist.

I look forward to seeing you there!

IS THIS THE KITCHEN OF THE FUTURE?

VIA Carte Blanche Grant In the framework of its mission to promote and valorize French creation, every year VIA awards one or several ‘Carte Blanche’ grants to designers whose originality and maturity of creative approach are outstanding for the period. A committee attributes this research grant to the selected designer to enable him/her to develop a personal project of a prospective character, which may involve improved functional logic or the use of new materials or technologies.

The Faltazi were selected for this award by a commission of professionals active in all the branches of the furnishing industry, who met in February 2008 and December 2009. Its members are: Michel Bouisson (VIA, head of creation assistance grants & relations with design schools), Jean-Louis Fréchin (Nodesign, designer & teacher at ENSCI-Les Ateliers), Yves Gradelet (VIA, head of exhibitions), Gérard Laizé (VIA, chief executive), Fiona Meadows (Cité de l’Architecture, architect & researcher), Franc’ Pairon (IFM, directress of postgraduate studies in fashion design), Claire Peillot (ESAD Rheims, directress), Catherine Pierre (AMC Le Moniteur architecture, journalist), Nicolas Roche (Roche&Bobois, director of furniture ranges).

Exhibition VIA until March 7th 2010 33,bd Daumesnil Paris 12e 2010 ‘carte blanche’ grant Faltazi Victor Massip / Laurent Lebot Assisted by Céline Bécu, Arthur Senant et Danielle Wielezynski www.ekokook.com

WELCOME TO ITALY BY DESIGN 2010

Italy by Design is a fully escorted group tour for design industry professionals.

I look forward to your company in September 2010. Kate

A NEW CONCEPT FOR FURNITURE & DESIGN INDUSTRY

Barbara Bromley from Bromley & Tate Interiors

A new concept is coming to the north shore; a 4 star green Furniture and Design Centre - the first of its kind in Australia.

The centre, known as Home HQ is located in Artarmon and is one of a kind. It is situated in a heritage listed building with a 4 star Green stamp.

Bromley and Tate Interiors will be moving into the new centre, due to open on March 24th 2010. Bromley and Tate will have a one stop design studio within the furniture showroom of barbara’s AT HOME. Also, showcasing for the first time, the design studio will have within its confines, a working kitchen, which will be home to many celebrity chefs from all over New South Wales, if only for a short time, to show off their many skills and at the same time showing clients how to design the perfect kitchen.

The 434 squares of floor space will be designed to showcase the latest designs in lounges, dining tables, bedroom furniture, office furniture, new fabrics and brand new colours whilst taking on board the 4 star green approach of the centre. The showroom will be mixing a new classical look with contemporary chic. The design of the showroom will exude a definite “wow factor” and offer thousands of design ideas.

The building accommodates 29 tenants and has parking for 503 cars over three levels. According to architects, Rice Daubney the new centre will provide an addition to the existing building which unapologetically asserts itself as new.



“The existing building is ‘clasped’ by the ‘arms’ of the new addition allowing the bulk of the existing building to be read and appreciated as not just a façade but as a three dimensional object,” the architects said.

“The contrast between the new and the old elevates the status of the existing building to an iconic object and therefore re-establishes its position in the contemporary world.”

Home HQ North Shore has been awarded a 4 star Green Star – Retail Centre V1 Certified Rating, which represents ‘Best Practice’ in environmentally sustainable design. It is the first 4 star Green Star Rated Bulky Goods Centre in Australia; a significant achievement given the heritage listed nature of the building.

A high standard of energy efficiency for the building is achieved through green features including extensive rainwater capture and re-use; energy efficient plant and machinery; the use of building materials that reduce the need for artificial heating and cooling by up to 60%; and the adaptive reuse of a heritage listed warehouse.

The building and site has heritage significance as one of the few surviving buildings associated with the development of the industrial precinct of Artarmon.
Its early use provided the location of a metal fabricating firm, Federated British Engineers which were involved with the Australian Government in the manufacturing of components of Navy Destroyer Ships.
More recent use has been the Willoughby City Council Works Depot Site.
The Western Façade is combination of retained brick wall and precast concrete with the original intent and look retained.
The structure is a combination of existing and new steel frame with concrete PT slabs.
Existing roof which consists of existing structural steel in a saw tooth arrangement and steel gantry's crane have been retained for heritage purposes.

This is a very exciting move towards a sustainable future in the furniture and design sector.

For more information contact http://www.barbarasathome.net/BromleyTate.html