Nested Comfort – Shoalhaven by Eco Outdoor and Adam Cornish
Eco Outdoor’s new Shoalhaven furniture collection – created in collaboration with designer Adam Cornish – has a strong connection to the inherent beauty of natural materials.
Eco Outdoor’s furnishings exemplify the company’s ethos of celebrating nature’s imperfections and the character and potential of raw materials. Each of its outdoor furniture lines is created in-house and in close collaboration with a renowned designer: the new Shoalhaven collection evolved under the guidance of multi-disciplinary Melbourne designer Adam Cornish.
Adam’s ability to embrace the strength and beauty of tactile materials and to conceive of deft, useable forms made him the perfect collaborator for the exceptional new range. “I was excited by the brand’s strong connection to authentic materials,” he says of the genesis of the collaboration. “From our first meeting it was evident that allowing natural and raw materials to speak unashamedly was part of the brand ethos.” Adam’s designs are simple and honest, while also delivering a high degree of longevity, both in terms of quality and visual appeal. With his meticulous attention to detail, Adam’s work beautifully aligns with Eco Outdoor’s aesthetic, as he uses the humble elegance of nature-inspired surfaces and furnishings to elevate domestic landscapes.
The Shoalhaven range reflects the idea of a nest or cocoon, which both embraces and bolsters the user through a combination of hard and soft materials. Encompassing a two-seater lounge, ottoman and lounge chair, the collection uses rolled aluminum invisibly welded to create an oversized basket frame, within which generous cushions are positioned for ultimate comfort. The cushions feature a charming French seam, which adds to the textural expression of the design.
Eco Outdoor’s furnishings exemplify the company’s ethos of celebrating nature’s imperfections and the character and potential of raw materials.
“I have worked with metal extensively throughout my career, so for me it was about introducing a clean, minimal metal design into the Eco Outdoor vernacular,” says Adam. “Something strong and robust that celebrates the contrast of materials – not just the product materials, but the greater Eco Outdoor stone palette, too.”
Rather than create a precise and particular form, the irregularities of the natural world are embraced in the design through a carefully rusticated structure, inviting users to be ensconced within it, reclining with relaxed elegance and enjoying the beauty of fresh air and green spaces. “I was fascinated with the idea of creating a product that had a type of solid, seaming woven exterior structure, juxtaposed against a padded internal structure,” he continues. “The two opposing material qualities work in harmony to create a soft yet structured cocoon. The frame is intentionally graphic with strong clean lines, visually dissecting the upholstery.”
The result is both robust and refined by design, fitting within landscapes that range from naturally wild to clean and structured. It is this juxtaposition that will enable these pieces to stay relevant through changing outdoor furniture design trends.
Adam’s designs are simple and honest, while also delivering a high degree of longevity, both in terms of quality and visual appeal.
