THE GEORGE ON COLLINS BY HECKER GUTHRIE

The Georges building is a Melbourne institution that has long graced Collins Street.  It has undergone a number of renovations over the years and, thanks to multi-disciplinary design practice Hecker Guthrie, its basement has now been transformed into the sophisticated bar and restaurant ­­ The George on Collins. We were thrilled to be part of the project!

Hecker Guthrie has created an interior that pays homage to the iconic building’s past as one of Melbourne’s finest shopping destinations.

“Georges traditionally represented an honest and refined sensibility, from the architecture of the building, to its discerning clientele. Patrons today still crave all of the style and service it has inherently always possessed, and The George on Collins will deliver this and more,” Hecker Guthrie states.

ISM Objects was engaged to custom manufacture the lighting for this beautiful new space, which helps set the mood for a memorable dining experience.

Stripping back the layers and gutting the entire basement space revealed the original architecture of the former department store. Hecker Guthrie “employ a refined simplicity, juxtaposing the monastic purity of the overall architectural forms, with a landscape of bespoke joinery and furniture,” they explain. “It is intelligently transformed to allow for impeccable hospitality and service from both the bar and the kitchen.”

The space is cleverly divided into several sections that cater to breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night drinks. Dining table booths and luxurious couches nestle into brick alcoves, with heavy curtains to draw for privacy. Rows of stools line the wooden bar encouraging conversation and appreciation of the array for drinks to select from. The timber floors are warm and understated, providing an atmosphere of subdued elegance and uncompromising style.

Newly transformed, this space in the Georges building is continuing to make its mark on Melbourne’s CBD. In its latest incarnation as The George on Collins, its legend will certainly live on.

Images courtesy of The New Work Project. Photography by Will Ellis & sketches by Paul Tuller.
 

MELBOURNE FRINGE FESTIVAL 2017

The Melbourne Fringe Festival has been lighting up our fine city for more than three decades and we’ve been a proud sponsor of one of its key events – Fringe Furniture – for a number of years. It’s always inspiring to see such brilliant and unexpected ideas in industrial design come to life.

Melbourne Fringe is the longest-running multi-arts festival in Victoria and, going by the success of this year’s festival, it will continue to endure. It features thousands of artists from every imaginable discipline performing across 160 venues to an audience of more than 350,000 people.

This year, there were talking see-saws in Federation Square, hilarious cabaret and comedy shows and incredible contemporary dance performances that all proved why Melbourne is the much-deserved arts capital of the country.

Of course, it was Fringe Furniture that captured our greatest attention. Held at the Abbotsford Convent, it included lighting, furniture, homewares and industrial designs. We always encourage young designers to submit their work for the exhibition.

As sponsors, we presented the ISM Objects Award for Lighting Innovation. The award went to John Budd for his beautiful glass Lucienne Vessels.

Photography by Theresa Harrison

We were also big fans of the CMYK Chair by Morgan Doty, which received the award for Best Student Design, and the Narrow-Minded Bookshelf by Edie Kurzer, which took out the Production Ready Award.

Melbourne Fringe Festival is always a highlight of our year. It was inspiring to be part of it again this year and to see so many exceptional designs on show. And congratulations again to John Budd for his award-winning Lucienne Vessels!