Friday 23 July 2010

 Another important date for SICIS, another capital city to add to the list of cities housing their icon showrooms. This time it’s Melbourne. The doors to the new showcase of the Italian house of fine artistic mosaics open on the 6th August, in the designers' hub of South Melbourne.  Mosaics that come to life in every guise, combining art with the ancient technique of mosaic.

 An open space in which to display the most important collections, splendid interpretations of a distant language, bringing vibrations and lights, sounds and colour. A juicy taste of SICIS' versatile work can be experienced at the new icon showroom.

198 Coventry St

South Melbourne 3205

1300 310 002

www.sicis.com

 To view photos from the event  please click here.

Around 200 guests attended the grand opening evening event for Bathe’s first showroom in Melbourne on the 3^rd June, 2010 in conjunction with Monument Magazine as its media partner.  A special guest was world-renowned designer Roberto Palomba who was on hand at the unveiling of this showroom which features many of his products designed for LAUFEN bathrooms.

Located at 1 Craine Street, South Melbourne: Originally a drab 1970s double storey warehouse the designers,  Exponential Design, (a member of ESG Group) had a challenge to convert it into Australia’s finest bathroom showroom.  They created two distinct spaces with a single aesthetic thread; product selection ground floor] and bathroom inspiration [first floor]. Designed to inspire architects, designers and specifiers, a series of ‘aspirational bathroom moments’ await visitors at every turn and every touch point. Vibrant colours, rustic textures and veiled textiles work harmoniously to create a seductive and tactile space - the perfect backdrop to European bathroom fittings of the highest manufacturing quality and design excellence.

The showroom displays the brands of KALDEWEI and LAUFEN, Europe’s foremost bathware and sanitaryware producers, HANSGROHE and AXOR, the world’s leading tapware and shower makers and KANERA, for the most sculptural designs in basins, to give architects and designers access to bathroom fittings from the world’s leading manufacturers and renowned designers such as Alberto Alessi, Philippe Starck, Roberto+Ludovica Palomba, Antonio Citterio and Patricia Urquiola.

If you wish to make an appointment to view the showroom contact: barbara@bathe.net.au  or ring 03 9645 5590

www.bathe.net.au

Reductions in negative mood states and feelings of stress by up to 60% have been found among people with plants in their offices, in a groundbreaking study by researchers from the University of Technology Sydney.

“We found such significant difference in scores for participants in offices with plants, as opposed to those without, that it confirms the benefits of indoor plants extend well beyond their contribution to air quality,” reports the head of the study, Adjunct  Professor Margaret Burchett.

 Across a series of tests conducted before and after plants were present in offices, people showed:

• 37% reduction in tension/anxiety;
• 58% reduction in depression/dejection;
• 44% reduction in anger/hostility;
• 38% reduction in fatigue; and
• 30% reduction in confusion.

“The results add further evidence for the benefit of plants for occupant well-being, not only in office buildings but in almost any other type of building as well.”

 The findings were the final part of a three year study, “Greening the Great Indoors for Human Health and Wellbeing”, conducted by UTS and supported by the Nursery and Garden Industry Australia and the National Interior Plantscape Association (NIPA)[1].

 One of the leading members of NIPA and indoor plant suppliers in Australia, Ambius, believes the results have further added weight to the recognition given by the Green Building Council Australia in its Green Star rating scheme which acknowledges the role plants have to play[2]. 

 “The results offer further compelling reasons for Indoor plants to become a standard installation element in an urban building or facility environment,” said Ambius Regional Director for the Asia Pacific Region, Mr Ray Borg.

“What better way to improve the well-being and productivity of people inside an office or any other building, than by greening the inside?”

 For a copy of the complete report http://www.nipa.asn.au/uts_project.htm

For other information visit the Ambius website at www.ambiusindoorplants.com.au

[1] ‘Greening the Great Indoors for Human Health and Wellbeing’

Professor Margaret Burchett (UTS), Dr Fraser Torpy (UTS), Mr Jason Brennan (UTS), Professor Ashley Craig (Univ. Syd.), Plants and Indoor Environmental Quality Group, Centre for Environmental Sustainability (CEnS), UTS, February 2010

[2] For more information on the Green Building Council Australia, go to the Office Interiors / Interior Environment Quality sectionIEQ – 15 ‘Indoor Plants’):  http://www.gbca.org.au/g-star/rating-tools/green-star-office-interiors-v1-1/1530.htm

The team at Interstudio have recently moved from their Flinders Lane Showroom to join the ever-increasing design community in Collingwood.

 Be sure to visit Interstudio in this gorgeous new location.

14-16 Easey Street

Collingwood

Melbourne

VICTORIA 3066

T: 1300 785 199

27th May 2010

Major architectural lighting supplier, WE-EF LIGHTING announced new partners in both NSW and the ACT yesterday.

After a rigorous selection process, WE-EF is delighted to welcome Light Culture Australia as its new partner in New South Wales (effective July 2010) and Project Lighting as its new partner in the Australian Capital Territory (effective August 2010).

 For further information, please contact:

 www.we-ef.com.au

 www.lightculture.com.au

 www.projectlighting.com.au