Competition: Kanebridge Quarterly supporting the next generation of Australian designers
Kanebridge Quarterly is proud to partner with Australia’s Next Top Designers competition at The Design Show in Sydney
2 min
The pandemic may already feel like a distant memory, but it had many lessons for the way we live — some with long standing impact.
For designers, architects and builders, one of the biggest takeaways was the value of supporting Australian design and manufacturing. With supply chains severely compromised, extending delivery times from a few weeks to several months, those who could design and make high quality furniture, flooring and lighting on Australian shores found themselves in high demand. And it was not just delivery times that were driving renewed interest in Australian design and manufacturing. Superior products designed for local conditions, as well as the ability to customise products to suit each clients’ needs showed the market for Australian products is significant, particularly at the upper end of the residential market where the desire to ‘connect’ directly with makers continues to grow.
It’s long overdue recognition for a sector dominated by imports, even at the highest end of the residential sector.
THE NEXT GENERATION
The long-term success of Australian design and manufacturing depends on supporting the next emerging generation of designers, which is why Kanebridge Quarterly magazine has partnered with Australia’s Next Top Designer this year, offering a cash prize of $10,000 to the winner for the first time.
Launched in 2022 by Design Show Australia, Australia’s Next Top Designers was created to shine a spotlight on emerging designers, makers and creatives with breakthrough products and concepts shaping the future of design.
Editor in chief of Kanebridge Quarterly, Robyn Willis, says the prize provides opportunity for emerging designers to develop prototypes, invest in marketing or further their education, formally or through travel experiences.
“It’s genuinely exciting for Kanebridge Quarterly to be partnering with Australia’s Next Top Designer this year,” she says. “The awards offer a platform for the next generation of emerging designers to showcase their work to industry while the prize is a practical pathway to help them on their way to the next stage of their career.”
DESIGN TITLE WITH A DIFFERENCE
Kanebridge Quarterly magazine is a seasonal title distributed across Australia focusing on the three pillars of Property, Money and Living. Aimed at a curated, engaged audience, it’s a beautiful publication, low on jargon but high on information about everything to make your residential design project successful.
Each year it dedicates an issue to all things Australian made. Stories about Australian designers, innovators, thought leaders, destinations and more highlight the depth and breadth of local talent in a beautifully packaged publication designed to have a long shelf life.
As part of its collaboration with Australia’s Next Top Designer, Kanebridge Quarterly magazine is running editorial spreads in its Winter 2024 edition to coincide with the show, followed by a focus on the category winners in the Spring 2024 issue.
“It’s part of our ongoing commitment to stand with industry and bring the work of local designers, makers and innovators to a wider audience thirsty for practical ways to integrate quality furniture and lighting into their residential spaces.
We’re delighted to be a part of The Design Show and Australia’s Next Top Designer.”
Learn more about Australia’s Next Top Designer Awards and apply to enter at designshow.com.au/antd. Submissions close Thursday, 4 April 2024.
Stay above the noise and ahead of the crowd with Australia’s best advice and inspiration on property, investing and residential design in Kanebridge Quarterly magazine.
International AI strategist Justin Kabbani will headline the Kanebridge Property Summit in Sydney on June 18, with tickets selling fast.
Scotch whisky expert, luxury hospitality strategist and Keeper of the Quaich inductee Ross Blainey is bringing a new philosophy of luxury experiences to Citizen Kanebridge.
King Living has unveiled a modular version of its Aura Sofa, bringing greater flexibility to the sculptural design collection as demand grows for furniture that can adapt to changing lifestyles.
2 min
Australian furniture brand King Living has expanded its Aura Collection with the launch of a new modular sofa designed to blend contemporary aesthetics with adaptable living.
The Aura Sofa builds on the success of the Aura Island range, first introduced in 2023, which included indoor and outdoor sofas as well as fixed and swivel occasional chairs.
The latest evolution introduces modular functionality to the collection, allowing homeowners to configure the sofa to suit a variety of spaces and uses.
As living spaces continue to evolve, particularly in urban environments where flexibility is increasingly valued, furniture designers are placing greater emphasis on products that can adapt over time.
King Living says the new Aura Sofa has been developed with this trend in mind, enabling customers to create corner, L-shaped or U-shaped layouts, while also allowing additional modules to be added as needs change.
King Living founder David King said the original Aura concept began as an exploration of sculptural design before being reimagined as a modular system.
“Aura began as an exploration of sculptural form. Now, we’ve brought modularity into that design language, giving the freedom to reimagine your space with a modular design made for flexibility,” he said.
The collection’s defining feature remains its soft, flowing silhouette, with curved forms replacing traditional angular sofa designs.
The company describes the sofa as a response to changing lifestyles, where living rooms increasingly serve multiple purposes, from entertaining guests and family gatherings to quiet reading corners and work-from-home spaces.
Its rounded profile and minimalist aesthetic are intended to enhance the flow of contemporary interiors while maximising available space. According to the company, the design is equally suited to compact apartments and larger open-plan homes.
“Today, living space is both a luxury and a constraint. Aura is our response, a purposeful design that proves when intention and fluidity converge, the result can feel both expansive and refined,” King said.
Beyond aesthetics, the new sofa incorporates several engineering features synonymous with the King Living brand.
These include the company’s Postureflex steel suspension system, extra-high pocket springs and its signature steel frame, which is backed by a 25-year warranty. The company says the design has been engineered to deliver long-term comfort and durability.
Sustainability has also been a focus of the design. Each module features a removable cover that can be professionally cleaned, repaired or replaced individually, reducing the need to replace an entire sofa and potentially extending the product’s lifespan.
The Aura Sofa is available made to order in a range of premium fabrics and European leathers, allowing customers to tailor the piece to different interior styles and colour palettes.
Designed, manufactured and sold exclusively by King Living, the Aura Sofa launched in showrooms and online early this month, marking the latest addition to the Australian company’s growing portfolio of modular furniture designs.
Three-Michelin-starred chef Massimiliano Alajmo will host an intimate Mediterranean sailing aboard Crystal Serenity, redefining fine dining at sea.
By improving sluggish performance or replacing a broken screen, you can make your old iPhone feel new agai
