bespoke Guest Editor
Yasmine Ghoniem
E xceptional design
ISSUE SIX OF SIX
COLLECTABLES
YSG
George Livissianis
Adriana Hanna
Flack Studio
Schmölzer Architecture
Shabnam Gupta
Nasim Köerting
Louis Barthélemy
Studio Renesa Yunizar
Luke Malaney
Charlotte Perriand
Nic Fern
Khaled El Mays
Laura Gonzalez
Karim Boumjimar
Rio Kobayashi
Laurids Gallée
Eugenie Kawabata
Palinda Kannangara
FOR THOSE who know
Creators of luxury kitchen appliances. Established 1683.
The difference is Gaggenau
I’ve had the pleasure of working with clients across Australia and the globe. Subtly uncovering the intricacies of their heritage to express them uniquely has become a core purpose of the studio’s culturally fluent design process. My upbringing as an Egyptian-Australian in both the Middle East and Australia has had a part to play in this curious enquiry, coupled with my drive to create the best, instinctually genuine and innovative work that I can.
With this in mind, I have approached my role as Guest Editor of the ‘Bespoke’ issue of Habitus – number six in a series of six – with a nomadic spirit, drawing together some of my favourite designers, artists, timber and stone artisans, architects, sculptors, and textile makers. Many I have collaborated with, and others I hope to in the not-too-distant future. The Lightbox section includes some creatives currently on my radar.
The profiles in the issue speak to my a nity with those who design without inhibition, including Louis Barthélemy, an extraordinary textile artist; Adriana Hanna, an incredibly emotive architect; Luke Malaney, a furniture designer who lets materials inspire his design; and Yunizar, an Indonesian artist who defies tradition: each a truly rare talent.
In keeping with the issue’s theme, I delve deep into the bespoke and why each YSG project is enriched with so many custom elements, taking a close look at three of my projects. We also explore KEEP, the incredible furniture design program curated by David Clark for the American Hardwood Export Council.
All the featured projects in this issue are uniquely fabulous. I interview George Livissianis about his practice and take a peek inside his new residence, Jackie’s House. I also call on good friends including Nasim Köerting, to slink inside her opulent The Press, before easing into the divine Darling Point by David Flack. We also flit across to India to explore The Mountain Story by Shabnam Gupta, and Sanctum by Renesā . Closer to home, we take in a Zen mountain eyrie by Schmölzer Architecture that frames the Victorian Alps magnificently. We then land back on Sydney turf to step inside my latest fairytale, Cinderella.
Flick o your slippers and enjoy the magic carpet ride.
YASMINE GHONIEM GUEST EDITOR
ABOVE Guest Editor Yasmine Ghoniem
lightbox #21
A gathering of the most beautiful, interesting and sometimes challenging designs shaping our world.
portrait #72
A brilliant architect finding her feet.
One of the most interesting textile artists.
Making furniture from salvaged and new materials.
An artist transcending expectations with vibrant and quirky works of personality.
74 ADRIANA HANNA
82 LOUIS BARTHÉLEMY
90 LU KE MALANEY
98 Y UNIZAR
DESIGN NEWS
Kaye
Timeless timber veneer.
A cool friend’s home
The powerful collaboration between the established Japanese design powerhouse, KOKUYO, and its lifestyle retail brand, ACTUS, sees the wonderful emergence of HOW WE LIVE.
OPPOSITE
Eilersen Playground corner sofa.
ABOVE
Eilersen Playground sofa.
Bringing a thoughtful blend of Japanese and European design sensibilities to Sydney’s design community, HOW WE LIVE is a dynamic world for living and working, homewares, art, stationery, and even house plants. Calling Surry Hills, one of Sydney’s most design-led neighbourhoods, home, the aptly named HOW WE LIVE has just launched in Taylor Square.
Indeed, pop into the store on April 11, 2026, to take advantage of the exclusive Habitus o er and the chance to win an Eilersen Playground sofa, a modular, design-led piece that exemplifies comfort, craftsmanship, and adaptability. Eilersen’s century-long Danish heritage and commitment to quality and precision typifies the HOW WE LIVE philosophy of bringing considered design into the home.
Responding to the increasingly blurred lines between the spaces we use for living, working, and leisure, HOW WE LIVE blends functional, curiosity-driven design with sophisticated, refined homeware. As space becomes increasingly precious, the HOW WE LIVE philosophy of an integrated work and life, where timeless design and thoughtfully curated collections are cherished, has become increasingly important.
As such, HOW WE LIVE has set its initial concept as a “Cool friend’s home”, that is, a place for inspiration, consultation, and immersive experiences. Moving well beyond retail, HOW WE LIVE is a destination showcasing lifestyle and workstyle vignettes and solutions. The flagship store, for example, will present objects in a sequence of lifestyle vignettes, from reading corners and living nooks, to dining settings and workspaces. Mirroring the flow of home life, the tableaus will reflect the growing convergence between home and work life. Lighting, scent, and sound also play a part in the showroom experience, demonstrating the immersive power of a multisensory approach to design.
Curated to create incredible spaces and moments, the selections embody quality and design, with sofas and lounge chairs from Eilersen, crafted with the comfort and precision that the Danish heritage brand has been perfecting for over a century; handcrafted dining furniture and storage from ACTUS that draw on the traditions of Japanese craft; and
iconic lighting from Italian brand FLOS. Soft furnishings, rugs, throws, stationery, ceramics, kitchenware, books, and home fragrance from the likes of Culti Milano round out the o ering, creating a holistic vision of home.
The names behind HOW WE LIVE are well known in Japan and lauded for consistent quality married to a refined aesthetic. KOKUYO, for example, was founded in 1905, and is now highly regarded for its curated experiences that quietly inspire the way people work, learn, and live. What began with paper has grown into a thoughtful collection of furniture, stationery, and creative tools guided by the belief that Curiosity is Life, embodying a fun and curious approach to design.
Complementing KOKUYO is ACTUS, the leading lifestyle retailer within the group, known for its refined and sophisticated aesthetic. Highly regarded for pioneering the integration of high-quality European modern interior design with Japanese functionality and aesthetics, ACTUS has gained recognition for its focus on timeless design, superior quality, and sustainable business practices. ACTUS, moreover, is celebrated for its focus on making everyday life at home more beautiful, functional, and enjoyable through a highly curated selection of quality goods. By merging KOKUYO’s expertise in functional, curiosity-driven design with ACTUS’s mastery of sophisticated lifestyle design, the two have created HOW WE LIVE, a unified destination that defines a new standard for integrated work and life.
Driven to create a hub for the city’s creative community, the HOW WE LIVE concept is just the start, with the showroom also functioning as a gallery and gathering space hosting events and workshops that will immerse visitors in the stories behind the design. In partnership with popular Japanese café Parami, an in-house dining destination will o er a selection of onigiri (rice balls), rolls, soups, and mu ns.
For people who live through the objects they choose and for whom good design elevates the everyday, HOW WE LIVE is a timely proposition. It o ers a thoughtful collection curated for the increasing flexibility we need to bring design into our homes – and places this concept firmly within the context of Sydney life.
Eclectic and unique, we are in excellent hands with Yasmine Ghoniem as guest editor of the bespoke issue.
features #110
BESPOKE
Yasmine takes us through the thinking behind bespoke pieces. 124 K EEP
Di erent timbers deliver a vast range of options.
on location #134
136 CINDERELLA
Personal, layered and unique, the nature of Cinderella is more about place than myth.
144 JACKIE’S HOUSE
Creating a home around a collection of fabulous pieces collected over a lifetime.
154 TH E MOUNTAIN STORY
Eclectic and colourful repose at the edge of the mountain.
162 EY RIE
A place where eagles soar.
170 T HE PRESS
Sumptuously feminine, richly tasselled and oh so much fun.
178 PLATFORM HOUSE
Living lightly in nature, set high in the jungle.
186 DA RLING POINT
Sumptuously elegant, the perfect home in the perfect location.
196 SA NCTUM
Lo oking inwards through architecture that cools and invites nature.
Habitus takes the conversation to our contributors, discovering their inspiration and design hunter® journeys
YASMINE GHONIEM
GILLIAN SERISIER
TIMOTHY KAYE
DIMITY NOBLE
The completely fabulous Yasmine Ghoniem, director of YSG and superstar of all things design, is a force of trailblazing interior design and architecture across the residential, commercial, and hospitality sectors globally. Charging spaces with atmospheric potency, staging, and storytelling, each project narrates a strong visual outcome with colour, form, and imagery always powerfully engaged. Given the abundance of custom elements in every project, Yasmine has built indelible ties with artists and skilled artisans to celebrate the maker’s touch, and with extraordinary generosity she has shared some of these connections as Guest Editor of the “bespoke” issue. Her connection to the world of artisans and artists has also led to collaborations with esteemed brands to create unique product ranges. In addition, she co-hosts the ABC’s Grand Designs Transformations series that launched in 2024.
BESPOKE #110
In her role as Editor of Habitus Magazine, Gillian brings a twentyyear oeuvre of design writing to the publication. Focusing on architecture, design, art, and interior design, her breadth of knowledge is expansive and generous, with all genres and styles regarded for their own merit. For the highly collectable series of Six, Gillian is working with the best designers in the Indo-Pacific region to create content that is engaged and varied. Moreover, by creating each issue through the lens of her Guest Editors, their unique personality is allowed to shape each issue of Habitus. The result is always surprising.
LOUIS BARTHÉLEMY # 82
Naarm/Melbourne-based Timothy Kaye specialises in architectural and interior photography. As an architectural and interior designer, Timothy has worked across a diverse range of projects including high-end residential, multi-residential, and hotels. With this background, he applies his minimalist architectural eye and considered approach to frame unique scenes and moments. While exploring the relationship between the finer details and the underlying narrative of each project, his work as a photographer focuses on capturing the emotion and atmosphere of each space, utilising light and shadow to evoke depth and mood.
EYRIE #162
Having worked in the communications arena for over 10 years as both a writer and strategic consultant, Dimity is a brilliant wordsmith and mighty fine person full stop.
Honing her critical eye while completing a master’s degree at the Courtauld Institute of Art, London, she brings a sharp discernment to everything she pens. Loathe to part with her Saturday night clubbing sessions in the infamous mid-nineties, she crossed the Atlantic to work a winter gallery internship in New York. Falling deeply under the city’s spell, she arrived back in Oz some five years later to manage exhibitions at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, and flex her considerable talent in the world of architectural marketing.
CINDERELLA #136
ALEESHA CALLAHAN
One of the best writers in the industry, Jan is currently an Editor and Program Director of the INDE. Awards at Indesign Media Asia Pacific. Her previous roles have included Acting Editor of Indesign magazine, Associate Publisher at Architecture Media, Editor and Co-Editor of inside magazine and Interiors Editor of ArchiTel.TV. As Principal of Henderson Media Consultants, she contributes to various architecture and design magazines, is a regular speaker at events, and has participated as a juror for many industry awards. Jan is passionate about design and through her di erent roles supports and contributes to design in Australia.
EYRIE #162
One of the most inspiring and thoughtful writers in the realm of architecture and design, Aleesha has written and commentated on every aspect of the creative world shaping our lives for the past 10 years. As the previous Editor of Habitus, she introduced Australia to a plethora of architects, interior designers, artists, artisans, and the shifts in thinking behind these talented makers.
Having first trained and practised as an interior designer, her passion for mid-century design and architecture began while living and working in Berlin. She continues to enrich our world as a contributing writer, with her extraordinary ability for getting to the heart of the issue always impressing. Photo, Forough Yavari.
ADRIANA HANNA # 74
Sarah is always on point as an art, architecture, and design writer. A member of the International Art Critics Association (AICA), Sarah was most recently Director, Galleries at Sydney Contemporary – Australasia’s premier art fair. In this role she held the curatorial responsibility for Installation Contemporary, featuring 13 largescale projects spanning the iconic, heritage-listed Carriageworks. With over two decades’ experience working in the art world, Sarah has previously held positions at the Biennale of Sydney, Liverpool Street Gallery, and Ivan Dougherty Gallery, UNSW. Sarah was a Board Director of Art Month Sydney during its inaugural year, and for many years has been an Asia Pacific Correspondent in the architecture and design media.
LUKE MALANEY #90
Director, photographer, cinematographer, and editor, Avesh Gaur is an experienced architectural photographer and filmmaker, specialising in creating captivating visual narratives for a diverse array of sectors. With a focused portfolio encompassing architecture, interior, hotels, and their adjacent cohorts, he has honed his craft over the years to deliver exceptional visual content. Avesh’s unique strength lies in his ability to adapt his artistic vision to meet the specific demands of each project. Whether it’s an intricate artfocused assignment or a strategic commercial shoot, his goal remains consistent: to provide tailored visual solutions that cater to his clients’ needs.
SANCTUM # 196
AVESH GAUR
SARAH HETHERINGTON
JAN HENDERSON
CHAIRMAN
Raj Nandan raj@indesign.com.au
GUEST EDITOR
Yasmine Ghoniem gillian@indesign.com.au
EDITOR
Gillian Serisier gillian@indesign.com.au
DIGITAL EDITOR
Timothy Alouani-Roby timothy@indesign.com.au
SUB EDITOR Rachel Fieldhouse
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Sylvia Weimer sylvia@spacelabdesign.com
DIGITAL DESIGN
Ekaterina Podloujnaya ekaterina@indesign.com.au
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Aleesha Callahan, Allan Fraser-Rush, Yasmine Ghoniem, Jan Henderson, Sarah Hetherington, Fel Lukins, Dimity Noble, Gillian Serisier.
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS/ ARTISTS
Photographers: Ganibu Balasuriya, Pier Carthew, Avesh Gaur, Sean Fennessy, Tom Ferguson, James Harris, Sean Haze, Mattia Iotti, Timothy Kaye, Mathijs Labadie, Adrian Lander, Jason LeCras, Joshua Morris, Trevor Mein, Connor Rancan, Tim Robinson, Prue Ruscoe, Kubar Shah, Inês Silva Sá, Anson Smart, David Stjernholm. Artists: Karim Boumjimar, Khaled El Mays, Nic Fern, Laurids Gallée, Holly Greenwood, Eugenie Kawabata, Rio Kobayashi, Rene Sinkjaer, Justin Williams, Wissa Wassif Weavers, Yunizar.
CEO Kavita Lala kavita@indesign.com.au
SENIOR BRAND MANAGER
Brunetta Stocco brunetta@indesign.com.au
PARTNERSHIPS AND MEDIA MANAGER
Katie Staver katie@indesign.com.au
GROUP OPERATIONS MANAGER
Sheree Bryant sheree@indesign.com.au
HEAD OF PRODUCTION Anna Carmody anna@indesign.com.au
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
Paul Ayoub print@indesign.com.au
FINANCE MANAGER
Vivia Felice vivia@indesign.com.au
MARKETING EXECUTIVE
Nicola Nolan nicola@indesign.com.au
EVENT MANAGER
Roisin Fagan roisin@indesign.com.au
PRODUCT MANAGER
Radu Enache radu@indesign.com.au
COVER IMAGE Guest Editor Yasmine Ghoniem is feeling right at home in the rancho-relaxo style of her latest YSG project, Cinderella. Photo, Anson Smart. Page 136.
HEAD OFFICE
98 Holdsworth Street, Woollahra NSW 2025 (61 2) 9368 0150 | (61 2) 9368 0289 (fax) www.habitusliving.com
Extraordinary lightbox #21
CAMARO PUR
Siena Oak 2248
CAMARO PUR - Luxury Vinyl Tile Collection
Bespoke
Handcrafted and bespoke pieces bring their unique quality and character to a project, defining it as well outside the parameters of a cookie cutter culture.
With gradient stripes and ombré washes, PALET tiles are like no other. Uchronia’s Day Bed installation at the Cour Jardin in striking green and red glazes — mirroring the Plaza Athénée’s signature palette — are drawn from Palet’s in-house collection, a library of over 100 colours that can be combined into more than 300,000 unique possibilities. Each 149x149mm tile is glazed to order in the Netherlands, balancing artisanal precision with creative freedom.
palet.shop
In response to the growing demand for organic interiors, LEICHT Kitchens Australia have introduced new curved side panels. E ectively expanding its design variety for kitchen and living room planning, the curved side panels enable gentle transitions and emphasise the flowing character of modern living and kitchen spaces.
leicht.com.au