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Creating a ‘modern classic’ interior sounds like a simple proposition, but requires a level of restraint that can be hard to pull off.
One designer whose work consistently strikes this careful balance is Jean-Pierre Biasol of Melbourne based design studio Biasol. After studying in Europe, Jean-Pierre launched his design studio in Melbourne in 2012. Perhaps best known for their stunning hospitality fit-outs, the studio also create seriously stylish residential interiors.
For Jean-Pierre, creating a modern classic aesthetic is about striving for a sense of timelessness, in order to remain relevant both now and into the future. A big part of his approach, is integrating classic design silhouettes into contemporary, architectural interiors. He’s a fan of heritage Austrian furniture brand Wittmann, whose curvy Vuelta tub chairs by superstar Spanish designer Jaime Hayon lend an element of elegance and comfort to Jean-Pierre’s own workspace, ‘Officina Biasol’ in Cremorne.
Hey Jean-Pierre! You’ve designed some seriously amazing homes and hospitality venues, how would you describe your design aesthetic?
Design for us is the process of intentionally creating something beautiful, while considering purpose and function, as well as economics and sociocultural factors. Having studied in Europe and in particular Italy, it gave me a lot of exposure to many of the design greats, which really plays a part in influencing the way we think as a studio today.
Our approach and design aesthetic can be described as a combination of Italian passion, German precision, and the simplicity and functionality that comes with Scandinavian design, all coming together as one.
We love modernising traditional elements with a sense of simplicity and elegance, and then elevating the design through an Australian filter. Ultimately, we want to create balance and harmony, to deliver good design that truly endures the test of time.
Your own studio in Cremorne strikes a careful balance between clean, contemporary lines and ultra lux details. Can you tell us a little about the finishes, furniture and details you’ve selected?
Officina Biasol is our design studio. It has been designed to inspire our team, embody our design philosophy and support our company culture.
Like in a residential project, everything has been purposefully placed for ease of use, with integrated and concealed appliances to reduce clutter. The rich palette of Officina Biasol reflects our love for materials, finishes and colour.
Grey walls and light timber floors provide a calm backdrop that accentuates the strong, black lines and forms of dark furniture and joinery. With a variety of spaces to retreat to, our reading space features two Wittmann Vuelta armchairs in our favourite ‘Teddy’ upholstery, which add a sense of comfort to a high-functioning workplace.
Wittman’s Vuelta range was designed by Spanish designer Jaime Hayon – can you tell us a little about this range?
It’s a great range, definitely accentuated by Hayon’s quirkiness. The collection is playful yet contemporary, and a great representation of its European origins – Jaime Hayon’s artistic Spanish background, and Wittmann’s Austrian heritage.
The Vuelta range is a great example of a united collaboration between designer and maker, one that we can wholeheartedly relate to.
What makes a ‘Modern Classic’ interior?
‘Modern’ to us is something that is designed for today — simple, minimal and functional. On the other hand, something that is ‘Classic’ has gone through the test of time, yet is still relevant and appealing today. There’s an unspoken desire that lives in classic design pieces, they evoke an emotion, with a unique sense of quality and nostalgia that can be hard to find in modern pieces.
Modern classic interiors need elegance and timelessness in order to remain relevant in the present, and into the future. For us, it’s about paring back as much as we can, to uncover only what is necessary and essential. It’s about balancing the old and the new, what’s existing and what is needed, and making sure that there is value, purpose and functionality, to ensure a lasting impact for the present-day, and into the future.
For more than 30 years, DOMO has remained Australia’s exclusive stockist of prestigious design brands from Europe, and across the globe.
With showrooms in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide, DOMO offers a curated collection of classic, contemporary indoor and outdoor furniture ranges that last a lifetime.
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