Five Architects and Designers on Their Favourite Materials

Upper East Side Apartment by Studio Mellone | Photography by William Jess Laird

Five architects and designers from Australia and abroad share their favourite materials to work with.

Andre Mellone

Founder and architect, Studio Mellone

New York, North America

“My three favourite materials are wood, bronze and marble.

I was born and raised in Brazil and moved to New York City to study architecture. Over the years, as I’ve built my own firm, I’ve shaped my practice more and more around my roots. The Modernist movement that took place in Brazil is especially prominent in my work today.”

Studio Mellone founder Andre Mellone

Upper East Side Apartment by Studio Mellone | Photography by William Jess Laird

Michael Kovac

Founder, KOVAC Design Studio

Los Angeles, California

“My three favourite materials are wood, stone and glass.

Even though we’re afforded the luxury of working with large sites and generous floor plans, we never lose sight of the fact that we’re designing these homes for people. We consciously engage all of the senses; we use materials you’d want to touch; we think about the acoustics of a space; we even think about smells. By engaging all the senses, not just visual, you warm and humanise a project.”

Strata House by KOVAC | Photography by Roger Davies

KOVAC founder Michael Kovac

Five Architects and Designers on Their Favourite Materials

Strata House by KOVAC | Photography by Roger Davies

Joshua Beck and Joana Gomes

Founders, CO-LAB Design Office

Tulum, Mexico

“My three favourite materials are wood, glass, and cement, and Joana’s are cement, glass, and stucco.

We aspire to create a level of visual intrigue and curiosity with our finishes – similar to the way an abstract painting might stimulate a viewer’s imagination and take them on a sensory journey.

We build up the finishes in layers, smoothing and sanding them to create a tactile experience that softens the monolithic qualities of cement work. When we believe a wall might be complete, we check to ensure that our eyes don’t get stuck on any one area and that there is a certain openness and interest to explore it for more time.”

CO-LAB founders Joana Gomes and Joshua Beck

Villa Petricor by CO-LAB Design Office | Photography by César Béjar

Interior designer Georgina Jeffries’ Lorne home | Photography by Lillie Thompson

Georgina Jeffries

Interior designer

Melbourne/Lorne, Victoria

“My three favourite materials are wood, brick and brass.

We live in a society where everything gets thrown away. A new trend is forecast, and an old style is demolished and replaced. I think the best thing we can do is design spaces that can be loved and appreciated for years to come; for longevity. That’s the most sustainable way of moving forward.”

Interior designer Georgina Jeffries

Interior designer Georgina Jeffries’ home | Photography by Lillie Thompson

Liam Eastop

Founder, Eastop Architects

Fitzroy, Melbourne

“My three favourite materials are glass, steel and solid construction.

Using solid materials like concrete is a way to embed buildings into their site. The two most recent projects we’ve done on the Mornington Peninsula push themselves into the hill they’re located on, so they become carved into the landscape.”