A product showroom for a client specialising in high quality polished plaster surface finishes. A space to present the client's product range, create a studio/gallery like setting which can support meetings with architects and interior designers and showcase the artisanal skills of product applicators.

Located in Melbourne, Australia the small asymmetrical existing retail shell presented plenty of design opportunities and challenges.

The design intent was to create a powerful immersive experience demonstrating the timeless quality, textural beauty and versatility of the client’s products. This was achieved by  placing new symmetrical, rational, well-proportioned organising volumes within the existing retail shell and applying the client’s own finishes to the entirety of the new internal surfaces including walls, floors, ceilings, and custom made fixtures, fittings and furniture.

At the heart of the composition lies a new 'grand salon' as a single  organising device for the space. This centrally located room is approached through four symmetrical portals providing access to secondary spaces such as display alcoves, storage, consulting areas, and services. The new cruciform plan arrangement is a gesture to timeless architecture, generating a sense of order and calm and an invitation to explore and discover the space.

Both artificial and natural light is thoughtfully controlled to create dynamic shadows and highlight the texture and depth of the materials.

The design creates a calming gallery-like atmosphere that is both monastic in the simplicity of its form and indulgent in the total application of beautiful surface finishes applied luxuriantly throughout the space. While intimate in scale, this project demonstrates how the arrangement of new geometry and the thoughtful application of quality materials can elevate a simple space to become monumental.

Photography by Timothy Kaye