In mid-October, Catapult Design successfully delivered over 150 pieces of furniture as part of the multi-year, $400m+ redevelopment of Macquarie Centre.

Macquarie Centre is the major retail and entertainment hub of north west Sydney, and this redevelopment makes it the largest such centre in New South Wales.

Catapult was approached by Megan Roberts and Lizz Fawcett from interior design firm Edge to work with them on creating a series of comfortable and inviting spaces for the patrons of the centre to experience. Says a statement from Edge:

‘AMP Capital approached us with a brief to create furniture pods for Macquarie Centre that would deliver on their customer-centric design strategy, where possible leveraging Australian furniture design talent to create unique moments of delight in what was to become a shopping destination for iconic international and local fashion brands.’

Indeed, Macquarie Centre is now the flagship NSW location for major international labels H&M and Uniqlo, securing these retailers well ahead of their planned CBD launches next year.

For this project, a significant number of customised Bronze Tables by Barbera were required in numerous shapes and sizes, with one Achille Table from L’Abbate, and 16 Popper lights by André Hnatojko in various finishes.

However, the most significant aspect for Catapult was the large quantity of custom produced items, exploiting their close connection to local manufacturers and their ability to respond to a variety of briefs and challenges.

Continues the Edge statement: ‘Working with Catapult’s existing collection, we were allowed the opportunity to adapt certain pieces and to custom design our own distinctive range for Macquarie Centre, which included custom coffee tables with integrated planters, individual planters, lounges, and ottomans.’

To satisfy the brief, 34 Lounges of various shapes, sizes and detailed upholstered finishes were required, as well as four Long Bench Ottomans. Over 50 Planters were designed and delivered in a variety of sizes, including the striking coffee table integrations that allow greenery to form a part of even the most intimate pod setting. Each Popper came with a custom-designed stand, to turn these traditional pendants into floor lamps, and a variety of side tables rounded out the delivery for this project.

‘For a small company that was only a year old when this project was initialised, to be entrusted with something of this magnitude was definitely exciting,’ says Catapult Director Leigh Johnson. ‘Having said that, it was also something we were entirely confident of delivering. The customisation of existing pieces in our collection was provided with utmost care by our masterful designers and craftspeople, while the development of new items allowed us to work very closely with our manufacturers, and the wonderful designers from Edge, to deliver truly unique, beautiful, long-lasting and, importantly, local pieces for this iconic development.’

Edge concurred on the success of the process and outcome. ‘From the start we had a great relationship with Leigh [Johnson] and Aaron [Zorzo] from Catapult. They shared our creative vision of engaging with local designers and pushing the boundaries in design to create something new and fresh […] The collaboration and laughs throughout the project from inception resulted in a unique and distinctive furniture pod collection, raising the bar in shopping centre ambience and amenity, delivering on our client’s brief and our creative vision.’

‘We’re incredibly proud of the outcomes we were able to deliver for Edge and Macquarie Centre,’ finishes Johnson. ‘It is a great accomplishment not only for us in our early stages, but also for some of our local designers and manufacturers. For their work to be highlighted in such a high profile, high traffic development fills us with joy as their designs continue to attract attention and bring comfort to the many thousands of people who will pass through daily.’

Photography by Tom Ferguson
Catapult Design
catapultdesign.net.au

Edge
edgeid.com.au