Aboriginal upholstery fabric adds personality and functionality to this South Australian high school project.
Resource Furniture is a small South Australian business with a diversely experienced team of 13. “We take pride in our ability to collaborate and use each other’s skill sets to the maximum benefit of our projects,” says Grace Misso, Business Development Executive. For Seaton High School they planned furniture and fabric selection, purchasing, logistics and overall coordination from inception to completion.
Original furniture design was selected specifically for this project. “We are never looking to create ordinary projects because we are not ordinary people, and neither are our clients!” says Grace.
The Brief
The project brief was to create a flexible and modern learning environment for the secondary school students, whilst also being practical and functional for the needs of each different space.
The fabric finishes needed to compliment the colour scheme selected by JPE Design Studio and be suitable for a high usage area.
Aboriginal Upholstery Fabric Choice
“Design choices are always made in collaboration with the architectural firm and the client,” explains Grace. “For this project we worked closely with the Interiors Team at JPE to ensure the fabric choices would suit the aesthetic they were looking to achieve in the overall building design. Our selections were made by building and expanding on their original choices.”
“We needed a statement fabric that was beautiful, classic and had personality,” explains Grace. “Jimmy Pike’s Topography design is striking, bold and had meaning, making it the perfect fit for the feel we wanted in the space. Jimmy Pike was known for his outgoing personality and making an impression on those he met. This fabric really represents that trait. Using Aboriginal upholstery fabric was an important acknowledgement of the traditional landowners of Seaton High School that its students and staff stand upon.”
Materialised Product
Jimmy Pike Topography Dust Storm, printed on Peau De Peche.
“Choosing a base cloth that I could rely on in a school environment impacted my decision as we needed to be confident it would be suitable for a heavy-duty commercial area. Peau De Peche met all the requirements.”
The Result
Resource Furniture came on board early in this project, enabling them to take the time to be innovative and creative in all departments, from furniture layouts to logistics and product design. Completing a large project which came together on time and thrilled the client made everything worthwhile.
Education Design
Education design is an ever-changing industry, and we are constantly looking for new product to meet the needs of our clients. Covid has had a heavy impact on students and teachers, and we are seeing changes in how learning spaces and classrooms are used, and therefore the type of furniture required. It’s an exciting industry to be working in. – Grace Misso, Resource Furniture
“The topic of how colour and texture effect cognitive thinking has seen more bravery and innovation in educational spaces, resulting in a more inviting environment where students will thrive. Sustainable products and local manufacturing have also become highly sought after. We are lucky enough to have very talented SA manufacturers who work closely with our Product Designers.”
“I am looking forward to getting creative with the interiors in education and creating many more spaces that look beautiful and everyone feels welcomed,” concludes Grace.
The Team & Credits
Architect: JPE Design Studio
Furniture & Project Management: Resource Furniture
Images: Resource Furniture
Materialised Team: South Australia
