As the sun began its descent over Albert Park Lake on Friday 16 October, Melbourne's architecture and design community gathered at the Lakeside Pavilion for an evening of conversation, connection and discovery.
Bringing together architects, interior designers, suppliers, industry professionals and homeowners, ArchiPro's Home Design Evening (HDE) Melbourne offered an opportunity to step away from the demands of daily practice, reconnect with familiar faces, make new connections and discover some of the latest products and innovations shaping the built environment.
From the moment of arrival, the offer of a glass of Moet set the tone for a fantastic night ahead. With Champagne in hand, each architecture and design obsessed guest moved between product displays and engaged in thoughtful conversations and ideas with industry leaders, including Adam Kane Architects,Woods Bagot, Davidov Architects,Hecker Guthrie, Cobild Lux and Secret Gardens.
For an industry that relies so heavily on relationships and collaboration, the opportunity to come together in person, and talk one on one with practitioners at the top of their respective fields was as valuable as the insights shared during the two panel discussions.
HDE also provided the ideal setting for leading brands to showcase their latest collections, materials and innovations in a setting that felt less like a sales pitch and more like a journey of discovery.
With several brands debuting new products exclusively at HDE - including The English Tapware Company who launched their Samuel Heath range, and Custom Lighting who showcased new ranges from Italy, it’s safe to say that for brands wanting to make an impact and connect with an eager audience, there’s nothing quite like it.
Add to this Lamina Stone who showcased their innovative lightweight natural stone range with an impressive architectural plinth, and fantastic product displays from Oblica, Plumbline, Tongue & Groove, Bishop Master Finishes, Bora, DecoFlame,Warmset Australia and more, at every turn, there was plenty of opportunity to not only touch, feel and experience products, materials and finishes, but also talk directly with the experts behind them, all in one place.
Guests learning about Oblica's design led heating and fireplace solutions.
Discovering materials while Robert Davidov talks to a guest in the background.
Alongside the product showcases and conversations that unfolded naturally over the course of the evening, two panel discussions brought some of Melbourne's leading design practitioners to the stage to share their insights with an eager, engaged audience.
The first, tailored to the architecture and design community, brought architects Adam Kane, of Adam Kane Architects, and Ana Sá of Woods Baggot, together for a thought-provoking exchange. Moderated by Tim Ross, the discussion challenged some of the industry's long-held assumptions about architectural practice, the meaning of success and the changing nature of Australian housing.
From left to right: Adam Kane, Ana Sá, Tim Ross.
As twilight settled over the lake, hundreds of homeowners gathered for the evening's second panel, an entertaining and refreshingly candid conversation that explored the opportunities, challenges and occasional frustrations of designing and building a home.
Drawing on the collective experience of architects, interior designers, builders and landscape designers, the lively conversation offered a glimpse behind the scenes of the design process, with plenty of practical advice, good humour and stories from years spent working closely with clients.
Tim Ross handing the microphone to an eager audience member during the Q&A part of the panel discussion.
Members of the audience taking in insights during the panel discussion.
As the evening drew to a close, the sense of enthusiasm and optimism about the potential of design to improve not only our individual, but also our collective lived experiences was unmistakable. As with every HDE, the Melbourne event was a celebration of the people, products and ideas that continue to shape our built environment, and a reminder of the value of bringing the design community together.
Architecture is not all serious. At HDE, the audience were engaged and entertained.
If you'd like to know more about Home Design Evening and how your brand or studio can get involved, or if you're a home owner who missed out, get in touch to find out more.
