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Nic Graham
Nic Graham
POINT OF VIEWS
POINT OF VIEWS
It is not surprising to learn that
Australian designer, Nic Graham favours a
hands-on approach to projects and an
appreciation for collaborations with
architects, artisans, furniture makers, or
landscape designers. His layered and
creative vision of design is unencumbered
by trends or current design ethos, but
based in his own vision which is unafraid
to embrace a mix of styles and genres to
create environments that are stylish, just
the right touch of eclectic, and above all
warm and welcoming. Graham’s
collaboration with Stellar Works began in
2012 with his work on the QT Hotel in
Sydney, resulting in the QT/Chillax
collection which embodies the technology
and craftsmanship of Stellar Works in a
clever collection of furniture that
references Scandinavian mid-century
design and a relaxed and playful attitude
found in the Australian lifestyle. The
collection was designed for the QT Brand
but because of its versatility, it has since
been used in many other hospitality
projects in the region.
How and when did your collaboration with
Stellar Works begin? From a designer’s per-
spective, how does Stellar Works stand out
as a design company and manufacturer?
Nic Graham: We met at a hotel design
conference five years ago. At the time we
were completing the QT hotel in Sydney.
Out of that came a collaboration on many
furniture pieces. The QT chair was born.
I was drawn to their philosophy and aes-
thetic, attention to detail and ability to
see refinement and elegance in vintage
inspired furniture making.
Would you talk about the QT/Chillax col-
lection—its inspiration, how it came to
be, and how it was informed by the crafts-
manship and technologies available with
Stellar Works? Would you describe a spe-
cific interior project and how the Chillax
Collection worked within that project?
NG: The QT chair was born from the need
for a vintage-inspired chair for our ho-
tel. The bronze upholstery studs, smooth
walnut timber arm and brass detailing
were part of our desire to adhere to a vin-
tage modern aesthetic. The Chillax was a
more contemporary design that used the
same base as the QT chair. A moulded
shape with a high and low back was seen
as a modern family, with a sexy silhouette
suitable for hotel projects. I always try and
make the back look nice (through) details,
hence the common brass bracket and
screw that we use on each chair.
How does Stellar Works and its unique
cross-cultural position with Chinese,
Japanese, and French heritage, bring
something new to the hospitality indus-
try? How do you see it connecting with the
Australian market?
NG: As a country, we are very familiar
with a cross cultural mix in our society. As
in design, we share influences from our
neighbours and our ancestors. For our
studio (Nic Graham & Associates), its
important that we show that good origi-
nal design can easily be realized through
our collaboration with Stellar Works, in a
world that is full of copies, much of which
is generated in China. The construc-
tion techniques represented in past and
present collections allow our designs to
carry more detail, more character and
more individual style as a result of the
well founded knowledge within the Stellar
Works company.
What is your perception of Shanghai as a
megacity compared to say New York or
Sydney?
NG: I adore the big Asian cities and the
crazy mix of new and old. I’m saddened
to see some of the original village streets
and markets be demolished for new de-
velopment. All cities need grit and polish,
old and new. Shanghai is enormous and
offers amazing opportunities in design.
The Bund is a perfect example of previous
generations and the cross cultural mix of
East and West.
What would be your ‘dream’ Stellar Works
project?
NG: It was always my dream to be a hotel
designer and travel the world as result.
The collaboration with Stellar Works has
allowed me to start a collection of pieces
that not only feature in my own hotel
projects, but in many others as well. This
in itself, is a dream fulfilled.
Pensez-vous qu’à travers son position-
nement unique à la croisée des
traditions chinoise, japonaise et fran-
çaise, Stellar Works apporte une touche
de nouveauté au secteur hôtelier ?
Comment cette marque se positionne-t-
elle sur le marché australien ?
N.G. : Notre pays et notre société sont
pétris de mélanges culturels et le milieu
du design n’échappe pas non plus aux
influences de nos voisins et de nos
ancêtres. Notre studio, Nic Graham &
Associates, tient à montrer que notre
collaboration avec Stellar Works a faci-
lité la réalisation de projets originaux
de qualité dans un monde de copies
souvent produites en Chine. Les tech-
niques de construction employées dans
les collections passées et actuelles nous
permettent d’approfondir le détail, le
style et la personnalité grâce au solide
savoir-faire de Stellar Works.
Quelle impression vous fait la mégalo-
pole de Shanghai par rapport à New
York ou à Sydney ?
N.G. : J’adore les grandes villes asia-
tiques et leur incroyable mélange de
neuf et d’ancien, même si je suis attristé
de voir disparaître certaines rues et
marchés traditionnels, démolis et rem-
placés par de nouvelles constructions.
Les villes ont à la fois besoin de lustre
et de poussière, de neuf et d’ancien.
Shanghai est gigantesque et offre
d’extraordinaires opportunités dans le
domaine du design. Le grand boulevard
du Bund illustre parfaitement l’intercul-
turalité entre Orient et Occident héritée
des générations précédentes.
Quel serait votre « projet de rêve » avec
Stellar Works ?
N.G. : J’ai toujours rêvé de travailler dans
le design hôtelier et que cette profession
m’amène à parcourir le monde. Ma col-
laboration avec Stellar Works m’a donné
l’opportunité de lancer une collection
dont les pièces figurent non seulement
dans mes projets hôteliers personnels,
mais aussi dans de nombreux autres.
C’est un rêve devenu réalité.
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3 — Nic Graham, Chillax Sofa
4 — Nic Graham, Chillax High Back Chair
5 — Nic Graham, Chillax Lounge Chair
6 — Nic Graham, QT Coffee Table
7 — Nic Graham, Chillax Stool
