Designer and Flack Studio founder David Flack
Apparatus Arrow pendant light, Fantasma floor lamp by Tobia Scarpa for Flos, table lamp by Jonah Takagi and custom Halcyon Lake kiln rug. Artwork by Dane Lovett and Jahnne Pasco-White, sculptures by Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, Lynda Draper and Jordan Marani.
Melbourne designer and founder of his namesake studio, David Flack, welcomes est inside his experiential new workspace.
With David at the helm, Flack Studio have amassed an internationally recognised portfolio of hospitality, retail and residential design projects over the past decade. Located in Melbourne’s Fitzroy, the studio’s newly renovated workspace is ‘an experimentation ground’ for their latest ideas, fostering their affinity for colour, expressive materiality, Australian contemporary art and many, many books.Â
We spoke with David about how the different spaces reflect steps in the design process to inspire clients and the team, the integral role of art in their practice and his mission to create an inclusive environment to welcome the broader community.Â
Congratulations on your beautiful workspace. What was your vision for the space?
David Flack: Our space is intuitive to how we design and collaborate within our space. There was not a vision but merely a desire to have a space that represented our studio. I wanted the experience for staff and our clients working in the space to be of the highest quality and of course, it’s highly functional for everyday processes.
How have you designed your workspace to inspire you and your team?
David Flack: The office has abundant natural light, warm materials, and a beautiful collection of Australian Contemporary art. It also features details and joinery we prototype and explore within our projects.
Florian Wild curated all of our plants inside and maintain them; they are a huge part of our energy and environment.
Another major design feature is our library, which flows through most of the studio. Besides people, books are our number one resource. We rely heavily on books at the commencement of a project. The team is encouraged to utilise the books in our library to explore and flesh out ideas.
How do you typically use the different spaces?
David Flack: In our design process, we strategically utilise distinct spaces to create an intimate, personal connection to each project.
The initial schematic presentation unfolds in our library and finishes room, where we draw inspiration from an array of books and finishes, setting the foundation for the design. It is also where we present that schematic presentation to the client, providing an immersive setting to engage with clients and discuss their reaction to the materiality.
As we progress through the later stages, such as tender, construction documentation, and services during the construction stages, we transition to our boardroom. Here, collaborative meetings take place with builders, joiners, and consultants, facilitating a comprehensive walkthrough of the project drawings to workshop the ideas being implemented in the project.
When it comes to community activations such as Plinth Drinks, our kitchen plays a vital role in accommodating the catered food and drinks for guests.
The meeting space behind the steel framing features the Cassina Capitol Complex table by Pierre Jeanneret, Cassina 412 Cab chairs by Mario Bellini, Bright Things floor lamp by Jordan Fleming and a Halcyon Lake vintage kilim rug. Artwork is by Sydney Ball.Â
Is there anything you experimented with in your workspace that you are now exploring in your projects?
David Flack: Our studio serves as a dynamic experimentation ground that influences our ongoing projects. The concept of the studio acting as a 3D business card is integral to this process. When clients visit our studio, they not only witness our creative environment but also engage with tangible expressions of the ideas we are exploring.
We recently experimented with a vibrant, high-gloss green paint in the front room of our studio. Which we’ve implemented in our latest project – the Terrace House, featured on the cover of Vogue Living’s March/April issue.
What are some of your favourite details in the space?
David Flack: We love the custom solid American oak joinery made by the Makery Club throughout the studio; we have had this since we moved in here in 2017, and it’s evolved and grown throughout the entire space; this continuity is wonderful.
Another feature we love is the coloured textured glass steel frame doors in my office and the board room; when the morning light hits this space, it’s so special.
Why is art such an integral part of your workspace?Â
David Flack: Art is an amazing form of honest human storytelling. The deliberate consideration of art placement is ingrained in our projects from their inception, as it helps establish the project’s narrative. We want to create spaces that are not only richly layered in materiality but also reflect our clients’ personalities.
An antique onyx table and vintage Africa chairs designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto.
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Can you talk specifically about the story behind a piece in your studio and why it’s personal to you?
David Flack: There are so many special pieces in our studio, but one that comes to mind straight away is a painting by First Nations artist Kayleen Whiskey ‘Flying to New York, 2022’. This piece is joyous and about having dreams, and we love Dolly Parton and New York, so what else is there to say? It’s nothing overly intellectual; it’s just bloody fantastic.
From ‘Plinth Drinks’ to your open library, you’re known for welcoming the community into your space. Why is bringing people together in this way important to you – and how does the evolved space create more opportunities for this?
David Flack: Creating an inclusive and welcoming environment has always been a core value for us. Design and art shouldn’t be exclusive but serve as tools to unite people, foster learning, and celebrate our differences.
The extension of our studio helps us to continue the push for inclusivity and community engagement as we’re able to implement bigger activations and welcome more people inside. For Melbourne Design Week 2023, we presented ‘Open Table’ – hosting nine diverse artists and designers, attracting nearly 500 visitors throughout the three-day exhibition.
