What we are saying
A discussion about
sustainability in practice
Angela Spillane | LinkedIn | 17th December 2024
Last month, we posted about a round table held in collaboration with Urban Core, focused on how we can work more sustainably in the food & beverage sector (an overlooked heavy hitter when it comes to construction waste and environmental impact).
This discussion yielded a fantastic collection of insights and actions to be taken, which we've compiled into a report. For anyone who is interested or involved in the design, construction, or food industry, we'd love to hear your thoughts.
We’d also like to take this opportunity to remind you to respond to the Green Building Council new Green Star Fitouts tool consultation period.
Thanks and credit to our fantastic round table - Lauren King as co-facilitator (Urban Core), George Drivas (ARGA), Kathryn O'Brien (Setting Up Shop), Matt Burke (Compass Intelle), Matthew Shinkel (Rede Projects), Pam McGhee (Dexus), Josh AIken (University of Queensland), Melissa Khoury (Urban Core), Elyse Rann (studiospillane), Tiana Wetzel (BAC), Charles Bowie (Head Full of Food / FODA).
Sydney with FODA
Angela Spillane | LinkedIn | 2nd December 2024
I was in Sydney in early November and was given a food tour by the inimitable and knowledgeable Charles Bowie of foda strategy.
He toured me through the Quay Quarter precinct near Darling Harbour, before heading via a couple of cafes to the new Metro, focusing on Martin Place. We discussed what works and what doesn’t in these new and emerging CBD precincts, why that is, how pedestrian ant tracks and customer behaviour impact the success of new ventures, and what is next for food in Sydney.
Read more here…
Round table
Angela Spillane | LinkedIn | 15th November 2024
studiospillane and Urban Core recently facilitated a round table to tackle a commonly overlooked problem in our industry: the effect of food & beverage fit outs on the environment.
It's not often discussed, but these tenancies can have a devastating environmental footprint. They're leased, upgraded and refitted as often as every 5-7 years. This means a remarkably short lifespan for the materials, furniture and fittings within each tenancy, as well as an ongoing impact from the construction of each new fit out - unless it's approached with foresight & responsibility from everyone involved.
Read more here…
Tattersall’s Club
Angela Spillane | LinkedIn | 13th November 2024
A closer look at the Health & Wellness Centre at Tattersall's Club.
For a prestigious club steeped in history, we knew this stage of the refurbishment would be about delivering smoothly functional amenities with a luxurious feel.
Read more here…
5 years of studiospillane
Angela Spillane | LinkedIn | 28th October 2024
This month marks 5 years of studiospillane!
I never expected to run a small business as part of my career plan - I was focused on working in leadership positions within great architectural practices, and I planned to continue to grow in that direction. Now I realise that this is exactly what I should be doing.
Read more here…
The Architecture Symposium:
Out of Office
studiospillane | LinkedIn | 22nd October 2024
Our team attended the recent architectural symposium in Brisbane entitled “out of office”, and presented by Architecture Media, and curated by Clare Kennedy of FIVE MILE RADIUS and John Ellway of John Ellway Architect.
As interior designers who have attended many architecture conferences over the years, we were struck by how different and accessible this one felt.
Read more here…
What does sustainable, Australian-based manufacturing look like?
Elizabeth Hall | LinkedIn | 15th October 2024
It was wonderful to be invited along for a tour with Interface, including both their showroom in Surry Hills and their mill in Minto – which is one of the last carpet manufacturing factories in Australia.
While many companies are catching up to today's expectations of sustainable practices, it's so inspiring to see those like Interface, who have been working proactively for decades to minimise their environmental footprint.
Read more here…
The invisible power of good retail design
If you’ve been in a retail environment where every store feels distinctive, inviting and matched to its context, that was no accident.
A well-designed retail precinct doesn’t feel like it’s been designed at all; it just feels right.
There’s a consistent tone and standard carried through the whole space. Stores complement each other and operate smoothly, and customers walk away with a positive experience. Happy customers make successful tenants, and successful tenants make flourishing developments – so everybody wins.
Read more here…
The Health & Wellness Centre at the Tattersall’s Club
Angela Spillane | LinkedIn | 21st August, 2024
We've recently unveiled our latest collaboration with Tattersall's Club: the new Health & Wellness Centre.
Working with the iconic Tattersall's Building always requires a sympathetic approach - paying tribute to its long history, while sensitively reviving and updating spaces to better suit its modern membership base. This project in particular is a thoughtful refurbishment to the pool and gym spaces, which formed part of the 1994 extension by Robin Gibson Architects.
See full post here…
Gather Bistro
Angela Spillane | LinkedIn | 8th August, 2024
Gather Bistro: 'a brasserie in a park'.
Positioned on the ground floor of a new tower on Brisbane's Ann Street, we wanted Gather to naturally attract passersby, and take the shape of an inviting space that glows from within.
See full post here…
How can the design industry help stop modern slavery?
Elyse Rann | LinkedIn | 1st August, 2024
Alongside 'fast fashion', the other issue that is rarely discussed in the design industry is modern slavery. It's one of the reasons why we like to specify locally made products on our projects, because knowing this information helps combat the issue. Remember if something is very cheap, someone else is probably paying a cost.
Take a read of Elyse's takeaways from the Green Design Show's eye-opening and inspiring talk from Libby Staggs, of Sustainable Business Matters.
See full post here…
It’s not good design if it’s not sustainable
Elyse Rann | LinkedIn | 30th July, 2024
Elyse attended the "Stunningly Good: Sustainability First Interiors," talk at the Green Design Show recently and had some great takeaways to share. The embedding of sustainability measures into our design work is incredibly important to our team, and exactly why we don't treat it as an optional extra. Take a read of her key takeaways.
See full post here…
Cairns Airport
Angela | LinkedIn | July, 2024
We're very happy to share some photos from our recent work with Cairns Airport!
This in-depth project focused on the International Terminal, which plays an important role as the gateway to two World Heritage sites: the Great Barrier Reef and the Tropical Rainforests of North Queensland.
See full post here…
Three key learnings from the Green Design Show
Hannah Torrisi | LinkedIn | 26th July, 2024
Last week, Elyse and I had the pleasure of attending the Green Design Show in Melbourne – a 3 day event focused on sustainability and ethical design, featuring dedicated talks and exhibitors showcasing innovative sustainable materials and practices in the industry. Knowing that our practices are ever-evolving as we learn more, I challenged myself to come back from the Design Show with new and tangible solutions to expand my sustainable material, finishes and practices knowledge bank. Here are my three key learnings.
See full post here…
Zero waste in
furniture manufacturing
Nadia Dubreuil | LinkedIn | 5th July, 2024
We always look for sustainably sourced Australian furniture first. If it's designed and made here, we can often gain a better understanding of the material sources and manufacturing processes - as well as negate the carbon footprint associated with international shipping. It also means we can support Australian businesses, and that's especially rewarding when it's a business demonstrating an incredible commitment to sustainability.
See full post here…
Working within heritage precincts
Angela Spillane | LinkedIn | July, 2024
Rarely do we have the opportunity to deliver a project amongst almost a century of heritage-listed history. Constructed in 1926 and designed by Hall & Prentice (now Phillips Smith Conwell), the original Tattersall's Club building is home to one of Brisbane's most prestigious social and sporting clubs. In the years since, it has undergone only a handful of renovations - including an extension in 1994 that used adjacent land to introduce hotel levels, a retail arcade, administration and hospitality spaces.
Working alongside an operational club with a long, rich history poses contrasting needs between past and future. In addition to a myriad of important features and traditions that are to be preserved and celebrated, there are also spaces that can benefit from a sensitive revival in order to better suit the present-day requirements of the club and its members.
This was the case with our renovation of the Conservatory, which included the dining room, library and administration spaces built in 1994 and designed by Brisbane architect Robin Gibson. Tattersall's Club wanted to reimagine these areas to accommodate the needs of an expanding membership base, which is increasingly diverse in age, background and gender.
See full post here…
Panel Discussion:
Sustainably Made Design
We're all familiar with the idea of fast fashion in the clothing industry - but what’s much less discussed is its prevalence in the Interior Design industry, too.
Like the countless items of clothing you can find in stores and online, every day we see design or lifestyle products and materials that are cheap, low quality, made overseas, and destined for landfill sooner rather than later. As interior designers, we’re proactively steering our clients and our projects away from these kinds of products and materials; we want to make choices that will benefit our clients and our environment in the long term.
I had the pleasure of moderating a panel at Artisan on Sustainably Made Design recently, alongside a group of impressive women in our industry who are equally passionate about encouraging better, more thoughtful design. It was incredibly inspiring to hear their insights on how we can encourage ‘slower’ and more responsible choices across the board.
Follow our
(insta) journey
