Image Credit : Diana Snapes
Alan Mitchell
Project Overview
"Ross Didier has a way of creating drama with his work that brings a natural star power to proceedings, the X factor if you will.
His latest seating pieces create a glamourisation of furniture design for much celebrated restaurant Vue De Monde in Melbourne."
Romona Berry
Project Commissioner
Project Creator
Team
Ross Didier - furniture designs
[ Shannon Bennett ]
[ Elenberg Fraser - project architects ]
Project Brief
Vue de Monde opened at the top of Rialto and is a high concept project inspired by the pre-European history, landscape and fauna of Melbourne.
I’d been experimenting with kangaroo hide for some time and my real motivation for this job was designing original products unmistakably Australian that were not just kitsch or cliché: but I also wanted to get the conversation started about using animal materials more holistically and about using an abundant native resource to Australia more responsibly, using the whole of the animal including the meat on the menu and skin without waste.
Project Need
The kangaroos are culled as part of controlled government programs and I wanted to see the skins of these beautiful animals expressed in all their brilliance rather than just on footy boots, soccer balls and jacket collars where there story isn’t told.
I’m interested in how the user relates to objects, and the personal connection.
I like the idea of my products being seen as functional pets or working companions and I hope these bespoke furniture designs for this project has clearly achieved this.
Design Challenge
I knew this project could potentially become contensious, but I'm no hunter, and the design challenge was always about using kangaroo responsibly, sensitively and as ethically as possible to tell a high design story.
The kangaroo leather also created upholstery challenges because each animal is very individual compared to cows and were therefore different sizes and shapes, and exposed all the signs of battle wounds like scratches and scars from living in the wild - in a global design culture educated on bland perfection it can often be difficult to promote this type of uniqueness.
Sustainability
Each chair for this project was designed and manufactured with high environmental consideration.
Internal shells were moulded using recycled post consumer products like old telephones and computers.
Foams are locally made and certified with Good Environmental Choice Australia.
Soild timbers and ply veneers are sourced from plantation grown forests.
Water based glues and lacqueres.
Kangaroo pelts and hides culled in controlled government programs.
Product Design - Furniture
This award recognises a component or overall product. Consideration given to aspects that relate to human usage, aesthetics, selection of components and materials, and the resolution of assembly, manufacturing and the overall function.
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