Thank you to the Design Files blog, for taking us through the Sydney home of interior deigner and educator Annalisa Capurro. The house was deigned and built in 1956 by Russell Jack of renowned architectural firm Allen, Jack and Cottier as his home and has been preserved beautifully. We loved learning of Jack's interogation process before selling his house to Capurro and can see exactly why she passed with flying colours. We swooned over her collection of mid-century modern design including quite a few Herman Miller pieces, this shot of the Eames moulded plywood lounge (above) is our favourite.

See the full design files article here.

Gary Chang is a Hong Kong based architect who came to the world's attention through his apartment design dubbed the 'Domestic Transformer' which overcomes the common design restraint in Hong Kong of working with small, yet expensive apartments. The 344 square feet space (approx 32sq m) he grew up in and still calls home, can be transformed into 24 different layouts using a system of sliding walls, revealing and concealing a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, guest room and even a cinema screening room. It's a design feat to be marvelled at and worthy of all the attention it garnered, check out the video below if you haven't seen it already.

Gary is the Managing Director of the architectural practice Edge Design Institute and his work is multidisciplinary, ranging from residential, retail and hospitality projects to product design, publication and presentations of his ideas and strategies. Below is our interview with Gary, who has given us a rare and honest insight into his practice as a designer, we hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

What led you to pursue a career in design?
Officially it was the postcards of the World Expo '70 in Osaka which my father gave me after he came back from there, working as a tour guide

But increasingly, I believe it was the same tiny 32sqm apartment which I have been residing for more than 30 years since childhood that indirectly paved me the way to pursue in the career in Architecture: to me this is not a matter of interest, instead this was a realistic problem-solving for me on how to cope with tight living space

(above) Serviced Apartments, Wanchai, Hong Kong, 2010

Describe a typical day at the office.
I wake up at 0530 to take the first subway to Central to practise swimming at the Landmark Mandarin Oriental Hotel, taking breakfast at the Landmark Atrium Cafe and arriving in my office by 0930 (our official office opening time)

The whole day would be hopping amongst the e-mails, struggling to talk to my colleagues (not joking as I really need to book a time to talk to them as they are the ones even busier than me), try avoiding meetings with clients and consultants as few are worthy to attend...in the meantime, I always try to get lunch earlier than most people to escape the crowd

I normally leave office by 1900 which doesn't mean an end to the work day as like most designers, we could work at anywhere, anytime, provided I am in a good mood to do so, at inspiring places with equally inspiring people...

These days I try to get to bed before midnight: very rare for designers, don't you agree?

(above) Executive Lounge at Hotel G, Beijing, China 2009

As an architect you work on a range of projects, from residential apartments to retail spaces, hotel lounges as well as smaller scale public art and products. Can you describe a design approach or aesthetic that unifies all of your work?
We have an official answer for that as well:

We term it " In Search for An Urban Dynamics"- on Choice, Change, Connectivity and Co-Existence

(above) Kung Fu Tea Set for Alessi, 2003

Your apartment in Hong Kong, the ‘Domestic Transformer’ has received enormous acclaim and publicity worldwide and must have been a turning point in your career. How has this influenced your work and design practice?
I would say the other way round, as mentioned earlier, I have been residing in this tiny 32sqm apartment for more than 30 years since childhood and it has became my laboratory on Space Design and motivate me and my colleagues in all these years on how to adopt the notion of Smart Use of Resources, be it Space and/or Time

(above) Edge have recently designed three different retail spaces for 'Beyond Organic' in Hong Kong 

We have learnt that your practice may initially start mocking up ideas for projects using tools such as lego. Can you describe some of the other ways you may begin working on the initial concepts for a project.
Nothing abnormal: we begin with interviewing our clients on what they really want as they seldom tell you the truth, or at least enough truth...and analyzing the context, then build models, physical and abstract, to explore possibilities, blabla...

As well as a practicing architect, you are a respected public speaker and published author. What part of the design process and your many roles as a designer do you enjoy most?
I really enjoy my time as speaker in the Design Conference, as I always want to take part in the entire proceedings instead of leaving the occasion immediately after my talk, I have at least a full day of concentration in the subject as well as total freedom from all other things (as I always have the luxury of turning off my mobile, etc, all the time)

The best conference/seminar would be those we would have a heated debate, just before the turning point before we would be thinking of...a (physical) fight!

(above) Two of Chang's publications

What inspires you?
Ordinary Things, things that (repeatedly) happens every day, things that we have to do every day

Who has influenced you?
From People on the street to people who don't listen to me

Growing up and living in Hong Kong’s densely urban environment is obviously a key influence on your work. How else does living and working in Hong Kong affect your work and practice.
The unique Hong Kong way of life: things (almost) instantly done: from instant noodles to instant design solutions (as expected from our bloody clients), being impatient all the time, or alternatively speaking: of ultra-efficiency, things being highly-volatile: few things are permanent... 

(above) Residential Complex Development, Beijing, China, 2009

What’s next, anything you’re excited about?
To test our locally-inspired strategies abroad and into other disciplines, be it products or clothing

How do you want your work to be remembered?
Smart and Down-to-Earth

All images courtesy of Edge Design Institute Ltd, where you can learn more about Gary's work and ideas.

Last week we were lucky enough to host a talk by Torafu Architects in our Tokyo Store. Koichi Suzuno and Shinya Kamuro fascinated the crowd with a discussion about their work and a behind the scenes look at the design process of the Herman Miller Store itself. Miyagi University Professor Senhiko Nakata facilitated the discussion along with George Amano, the retail consultant/director. Check out our recent interview with Torafu here.

Sydneysiders will be able to join the Australian Architecture Association for the first of their Short Black talks this March. Well known Sydney Architect Caroline Pidcock and Cameron Rosen from Australian Living  will present the 5 keys to a sustainable home and take you on a tour inside to see for yourself these principles brought to life. For anyone interested in renovating or buidling it sounds like an event not to be missed. Book online here or check out their site for more tours around Sydney about architecture and design. With a mission to bring architecture to the general public their series of walking, bus and harbour tours are a special treat and something to enjoy for residents and visitors alike.

Regular readers will know that we were delighted with the opening of our flagship store in Marunouchi, Tokyo in December 2010. 1400 people lined up around the block to get a glimpse of the world’s first directly operated Herman Miller store - and they weren’t disappointed with the results. An integral part of the store's success, the store interiors provide a stunning backdrop to the Herman Miller range on display. In developing the interiors, our team had the pleasure of working with Torafu Architects whose practice works on a range of projects from interiors through to installations and on brands from Nike to 3M. We recently caught up with Torafu and asked them about their work and inspiration.

What led you to pursue a career in design?

As a basis for our work, we make models and study them. I was always interested in handicrafts, so maybe I felt attracted to work that was an extension of that.

Describe a typical day at the office.

Early in the day we check how each project is progressing and, whenever necessary, we check the results in the evening. But the distinctive feature of our working style is that we study the design as much as possible in preliminary meetings and determine its direction through discussions with the craftsmen, for example, by visiting the factory where furniture is being made.

How would you describe your design aesthetic? And how has your approach evolved over the years?

I have no fixed taste in design. I approach each project according to the conditions of the place and the environment, and discussions with the client also lead to solutions. Rather than attaching too much importance to a universal methodology, I try to make each solution evolve into design ideas. Also, regardless of whether I’m making a chair or a t able or whatever, there is no change in my stance of going back to the basics of creating things.

What inspires you?

When I’m walking around outside, looking in a different way at things I might easily overlook enables me to see them in a fresh light. I try to develop the perspective of discovering value in quite commonplace things.

What have been your most rewarding achievements?

Each project is special for me because I try to make each solution evolve into design ideas.

What’s next?

The range of our work tends to be very wide, covering various design genres including architecture, interiors, and products. I would actually like to maintain that wide range and positively take up the challenge of working in different genres.

How do you want your work to be remembered?

In our contemporary world we are surrounded by a vast array of different objects. I want to continue creating things that stimulate people to ask how finished products acquire their present form and provide new perspectives, rather than simply choosing from among them. I hope that this approach can foster a more creative spirit by encouraging ordinary people not simply to make passive choices but to actually try to create things they need.

We will have the pleasure of having Torafu Architects present a talk about their work in the Herman Miller Store Tokyo at 7:00pm on January 20^th. For more details please contact info_storetokyo@hermanmiller.com