Future Histories – Melanie Katsalidis by Foolscap Studio
With a subtly refined material palette and pops of vivid colour, Foolscap Studio has created a jewel-like store and gallery for Melanie Katsalidis in Melbourne’s Royal Arcade, reflecting the designer’s ethos of respect for precious metals and stones and her determination to create coveted pieces that last generations.
Melanie Katsalidis’s new retail store, Pieces of Eight, is iconically and aptly located beneath the historic Gaunt’s Clock. Jewel-like both in size and style, the store is designed in response to the concept of ‘Future Histories’, an ethos which drives the jeweller to create timeless adornments that the wearer forms attachments with, seeing them through all ages and stages of life. To express this essence of timelessness and treasure, a bespoke lapis blue rippled bench created by Foolscap acts as a centrepiece for the store, echoing the form of a cushioned jewellery box. This is set against the backdrop of nude-toned draped fabrics and juxtaposed against the grit of concrete, relic-like display plinths created by Queensland design studio Five Miles Radius.
‘Future Histories’ is also about acknowledging the stories behind the ancient gems and precious metals used in the creation of the jewellery, which is reflected in the inclusion of raw stone pieces and terrazzo elements alongside metallic furniture. An aluminium Huggy Stool from Obodo in a rich terracotta joins a high terrazzo-topped table from Mortadello, lending a workspace for customers and staff. Delicate pendant lamps from Brahman Perera provide a gentle floral essence to the space, while the original timber floors are polished to a rich finish as a reminder of the history of the arcade.
Emanating a quietude with a sense of awe and wonder, the store is designed to create pause, inviting close and thoughtful inspection of the pieces within its intimately sized rooms.
