Cult Design Unveils a New Collection by Independent Designers
Four of Australia’s most esteemed designers have created furniture and lighting ranges for Cult Design’s in-house brand, nau
Renowned Australian design retailer Cult Design has released a new collection for its in-house brand, nau. Made locally, the range has been conceived by furniture designers Adam Goodrum, Kate Stokes, Adam Cornish and Tom Fereday, each of whom developed their own independent collections. Rather than impose a brief, Cult was receptive to pitches from the designers directly.
‘One of the most exciting things about Australian design is that we’ve carved out our own aesthetic,’ says Cult founder Richard Munao. ‘We’ve looked to the rest of the world for inspiration and internally at our own unique landscape, and the result is something that’s entirely different. The common thread is that each piece seems to have been born from a fresh perspective.’
While the nau collections are unique in their own right, they all echo the tenets of versatility, comfort, function and quality. A highlight in this new collection is award-winning furniture and product designer Fereday’s series of flat-pack beds and tables. A category rarely explored at a premium level, his concept of ready-to-assemble furniture is realised in high-quality solid timber. Suitably named Nami (‘wave’ in Japanese), the collection consists of materials with a timber profile and grain that flows seamlessly into adjoining components. Sturdy yet collapsible, every piece can be assembled with an Allen key. ‘A deliberate horizontal grain and finned profile highlights the elegance of solid timber with a quiet yet sculptural form,’ Fereday says. ‘I wanted to create a very tactile and light piece that was also incredibly strong and durable.’
Environmental consciousness was also a consideration for Fereday, and all the timbers have been sustainably certified. Practically, flat-packed furniture also allows for lower-impact deliveries and installation in intimate, often challenging spaces.
‘It’s rare for flat-packed furniture to retain the quality and presence of a solid timber piece or for it to be successfully disassembled and moved without being devalued. We felt that it was an area that merited being pursued further and the collection evolved,’ says Fereday, who worked with local manufacturers to execute this exemplar of precision craft.
Text / Carli Philips
Images / Maxwell Finch
Styling / Megan Morton
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