Sydney’s architecture and design community came together to mark the launch of our latest magazine, INDESIGN #91. The issue, themed ‘Work (Place) & Play,’ is especially notable as the first with our new guest editor model. And not just any guest editor – SJB’s Adam Haddow oversaw the new magazine alongside Gillian Serisier, fresh from the announcement that he is the AIA’s National President-elect. We also once again acknowledge the wonderful role played by our previous editor, Alice Blackwood, who brought the milestone 90^th issue to life in 2023.

Indesignlive editor, Timothy Alouani-Roby, caught up with Haddow on the night, suggesting a career change to work in publishing might be on the cards. “How amazing the opportunity to review a whole lot of projects and talk about what’s interesting in Australia, Southeast Asia and the world at the moment,” said Haddow.  

“I loved talking about the landscape projects. Actually, it’s really nice to think about the idea of design and city-making by drawing landscape into it. We’re used to talking about architecture and it’s really nice to bring a bit of landscape into that public space,” he added. 

Regarding his new Presidency, Haddow commented at the launch party: “It’s super exciting to represent the industry and to help drive some change.”

The space between work and play is the focus of the new magazine issue, navigating where we live and the amenities that surround us, and how that pairs with where and how we work. Haddow himself discusses The Business of Living (p. 144), which underpins his fabulous conversation with Kerstin Thompson, Principal of Kerstin Thompson Architects.

How we work and play also forms the backdrop to the projects featured in this issue, with a new aesthetic shaping workplaces more glamorous than corporate. Forbes Head Quarters by Studio Griffiths and Swee Design (p. 92), for example, is a boutique hotel-like in its luxurious appointments, while Those Architects’ design for MESHKI (p. 74) is otherworldly in its beauty. Elsewhere, the incredible interiors of Artyzen in Singapore by Australian Interior Designer Nic Graham are on show.

Play is also well represented with the Mandarin Cake Shop by CCD (p.130), the Yiyun Bishan Hotel by ya.d studio (p. 112) and Swell Hotel in Byron Bay by Nyree Mackenzie (p.136).  

Excitingly, the INDE.Awards 2024 Luminaries are revealed (p. 56) with exceptional profiles by acclaimed writer, Jan Henderson. As always, the results are brilliant with the best of the best in the Indo-Pacific recognised by our fabulous awards program.

We then take a departure from the usual with the introduction of a landscape architect project by Dangar Barin Smith (p. 158) and a new sustainable piece of architecture T3 by Jackson Clements Burrows Architects (p. 124).

Find out more about the magazine here.

Photography
Anastasia Nielsen

More on INDESIGN #91 here!