In the heart of Melbourne, this space for a prominent Queen’s Counsel provides calm and respite through a stylish mix of soft forms, striking artwork and designer furniture.
December 5th, 2022
There are a few words that immediately come to mind when describing the Queens Chambers project, beginning with cosy, calm and inviting. Certainly, such words would have figured in the brief to FMD Architects, which was tasked with creating an interior of quiet contemplation for a prominent Melbourne-based Queen’s Counsel. Used between court proceedings, the space needs to function as a place of respite, but also provide somewhere for research, hosting colleagues and work-related meetings.
“The curvaceous interior represents a cocoon that lets the client nestle,” explains FMD Architects director Fiona Dunin. “This allows our client to have space for careful consideration as well as space to harness the creativity needed to prepare for an upcoming court case.”
Curved blonde joinery at once softens the Chambers and gives it a distinct, modern appearance. It contrasts nicely with the oak flooring, which has been finished in a rich chocolate-hued stain. This in turn complements the stark black feature wall. The design eschews the typical monotone palette usually employed to realise a sense of calm, instead playing with light and dark to achieve an easy visual flow.
As a result, everything is effortlessly curated and nothing feels forced. Artwork has been used to punctuate the scheme and Dunin has selected pieces that are sophisticated yet possess a quiet drama. A framed Petrina Hicks photograph sits on a white wall, its model’s white-blonde hair all the more striking in this context.
Related: Inside Mirvac’s Melbourne home
Meanwhile, a digital artwork featuring fantastical mushrooms by Guy Lavoipierre plays on the television. It represents a connection to nature, symbolising transformation, and is eye-catching for the stunning colour and form of its subject matter. The furniture is likewise elegant and judiciously selected for both comfort and flair. The selection includes a Ross Gardam table, the Fluffy lounge chair by Fredrik A. Kayser and Gubi’s Beetle Chair.
Dunin ensured the client could block out the city beyond when required and this is part of the space’s appeal. “The interior transitions seamlessly between night and day with the pull of a curtain, endeavouring to provide for the duality of work and rest, ultimately offering respite from a day in court,” she says. With the curtain drawn, the space is even more relaxing and it’s this simple device that truly helps to achieve the desired cocoon-like effect.
This is an understated project that is decidedly domestic in scale. Its calming ambience is accentuated with a clever use of form and colour, while decorative elements are restrained, enhancing the interior’s relaxed beauty.
FMD Architects
fmdarchitects.com.au
Photography
Tatjana Plitt
We think you might also like this article on Australian design studios to watch.
INDESIGN is on instagram
Follow @indesignlive
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Gaggenau’s understated appliance fuses a carefully calibrated aesthetic of deliberate subtraction with an intuitive dynamism of culinary fluidity, unveiling a delightfully unrestricted spectrum of high-performing creativity.
BLANCOCULINA-S II Sensor promotes water efficiency and reduces waste, representing a leap forward in faucet technology.
In design, the concept of absence is particularly powerful – it’s the abundant potential of deliberate non-presence that amplifies the impact of what is. And it is this realm of sophisticated subtraction that Gaggenau’s Dishwasher 400 Series so generously – and quietly – occupies.
Within the intimate confines of compact living, where space is at a premium, efficiency is critical and dining out often trumps home cooking, Gaggenau’s 400 Series Culinary Drawer proves that limited space can, in fact, unlock unlimited culinary possibilities.
A regional mall, residential garden, school yard and train station were all among the projects honoured at this year’s Australian Institute of Landscape Architects’ (AILA) Victorian Awards.
Queers in Property (QIP) NSW hosted a Pride Month event, Home Truths: Sydney’s Housing Crisis and the LGBTQIA+ Community, on Thursday 5th June 2025.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Melbourne’s Chadstone shopping precinct has expanded with the opening of the Market Pavilion, a large-scale fresh food and dining destination designed by Woods Bagot.
Terrai by Sona Reddy Studio translates the cultural identity of Telangana into a dining experience through regional materials, craftsmanship and contemporary design.