What was your brief for this project?

Alexander Wastney (AW): Harrows is a family-owned New Zealand business, which designs and makes tailored commercial furniture “crafted for connection”. The team wanted its new showroom to embody its ambition to be the champion of social spaces. Harrows’ core customers – designers and architects – needed a space where they can inspire clients and experiment with diverse furniture solutions.

What was the thinking behind your design?

AW: Our vision was to create an immersive customer experience where clients could easily transition between different social settings, and mix and match furniture items. Flexibility was key, not only to adapt to larger events but also to create functional zones for the sales team within the showroom, showcasing the versatility of Harrows’ products. We also wanted to highlight the ways in which workplaces today are encouraging people back to the office with more residential and hospitality-feeling furniture, so there’s a lot of emphasis on social connection throughout the space.

Did the site context impact your design?

AW: The choice of the heritage-listed 1920s’ Orange Coronation Hall in Auckland’s Eden Terrace was deliberate. Its high ceilings, steel windows, nativetimber flooring and spacious open hall provided the perfect canvas for the furniture. We needed a space that resonates across various commercial sectors, from workplace and hospitality design to education, healthcare and public spaces. The heritage status and lease covenants presented unique challenges – no internal walls and no attachments to floors, walls or ceilings – however, this limitation became an opportunity to highlight the adaptability of Harrows’ furniture systems. We divided the space into various spatial typologies using strategic lighting, sheer curtains, shelving dividers and larger furniture systems to define areas.

Tell us about your choice of fabrics.

AW: We used Warwick Fabrics extensively throughout this project because of their interesting textural choices, excellent colour range and availability. We really enjoyed designing the new booth seats using Warwick’s Copeland Pumice, a soft, transitional upholstery plain with a host of technical characteristics. Ovis, a classic boucle, added textural interest for the backrests. The versatile Warwick Eastwood range, a leather-look fabric, was a perfect choice for the Karaka stools and Noyack, a multi-textured upholstery fabric, looked superb on the Verde three-seater sofa.

See more in the Material Focus series, including inspiring interiors: The Helier by Peddlethorp, Waka Kotahi NZTA by Designgroup Stapleton Elliott, Picnicka by CTRL Space, Arvida by Stack Interiors, Gulf Rise by Urban Lounge, and more, here.

ArchitectureNow and Architecture NZ work with a range of partners in the A&D supply sector to create appropriate content for the site. This article has been supported by Warwick Fabrics.

If your brand or clients are interested in similar creative content email mark.lipman@agm.co.nz to enquire.