Today’s innovators of fashionable fused with functionality furniture have been whittled down to seven ‘finalist’ designers at this year’s HOME New Zealand Design Awards recently  exhibited at Te Tuhi – Centre for the Arts, Pakuranga.

It was renowned British designer, Edward Barber’s judging job to select only one as winner.

The seven finalists included a diverse range of materials and fixtures in their entries.

FIRST PLACE

The slender zigzag coat rack aptly named Twig by Jamie McLellan was crowned the winning piece in this year’s competition. McLellan designed Twig in conjunction with design manufacturer, Fletcher Systems. This piece was deemed number one as its characteristics contain and achieve to be a “functional object” and also a stand only sculpture.

Te Tuhi curator, James McCarthy says hosting this high end collection is a superb example of the style and sophistication of New Zealand based and or born designers.

Sleekness and refined design is reflected in all the finalists, and Simon James’ Hawk wooden chair is simple and timeless. Like winner McLellan – James executes a smart, clean finish with functionality.

The Knight light by David Moreland is made from laser cut spun aluminium with a powder coat finish. Moreland graduated with a design degree majoring in 3D design in 1998. He previously worked for co-finalist David Trubridge Design, his Knight light is available at Simon James Design, Upper Queen Street, Auckland City.

<!--page-->Nathan Goldsworthy’s solid and smooth Steel Table stands out for its craftsmanship. Goldworthy used industrial materials and machinery to create this piece with finesse. As James McCarthy from Te Tuhi points out, the “joining welds” leave an uninterrupted flow of the triangle shaped structure.

Artists Martin Poppelwell and Ben Pearce were brought together by designer Sandi Reefman. Her idea to incorporate art in furniture for the home, saw the trio collaborate to create the Grid lamp. Poppelwell’s ‘grid’ design concept was fashioned into the lamp shade by Reefman who then asked Pearce to create the bulb looking base. Poppelwell says his works integrate function with an aesthetic.

With contemporary furniture having broad scope, textile designer Ngahuia Damerell displays her Grey Triangles fabric. She says by growing up in New Zealand she has developed a likeness for nature and it is an element of inspiration to her design style, though Grey Triangles was inspired by the architectural scene in Wellington. Others have interpreted the design as “contemporary Tapa cloth” and “yachts”.