Riding the Design Wave

The design awards season is once again upon us. And the big name programs have either announced their shortlists or are gearing up to reveal the winners. In recent years there’s been one South Australian architecture practice that has been shortlisted enough times it’s made people stand up and take notice. Genesin Studio was one of the contenders for Emerging Designer at last year’s Interior Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) and this year the two-person practice has two residences shortlisted in the Australian Interior Design Awards (AIDA). Not to mention the shortlisting of LAX, which has received abundant coverage in both print and online, in the AIDA’s Retail Design category. Founder and principal Ryan Genesin is understandably excited at the announcement. “We’re riding a nice wave on those jobs at the moment,” he says. “LAX has especially turned heads.” But it is the shortlisting of TMK Residence of which he is most proud. “That project’s been my baby for quite a while,” Genesin laughs. “It was my first big residential job and I actually designed it in late 2008.” Like many of his peers Genesin is aware of the importance in entering awards programs. As a small firm they are limited in what they can do in terms of marketing. And although the entry process is sometimes a costly one (once photographer fees and the actual entry fees are taken into consideration) the outcome can be extremely beneficial. “It’s about trying to give the practice more exposure,” Genesin explains. And with awards’ websites often being the first port of call for design editors and potential clients alike, it’s a strategy that will most certainly pay off. TMK Residence’s shortlisting some five years after it was first conceptualised also reassures Genesin that his approach is as he had hoped. “TMK’s aesthetic isn’t of a particular time,” he reflects. “What I was trying to do was make it timeless and so it’s quite minimal.” The Auldana home of a young married couple it is strikingly elegant in its simplicity. Genesin’s black and white colour scheme is effective, and his introduction of marble benchtops, carefully detailed cabinetry and timber stairs adds an element of warmth to the modest sized interior. It’s also possible to see the emerging architect’s influences. Joseph Dirand and Vincent Van Duysen are two architects Genesin looks to for their spare composition and sophisticated use of materials. If TMK Residence has a timeless sensibility then Genesin’s second AIDA Residential Design shortlisting is completely of another time. “Hazelwood Park Residence definitely references the 1950s,” he says. “Together with the client we tried to create a nostalgic aesthetic geared towards that period.” The result is an inviting interior that perfectly balances blonde timbers against white walls and marble accents. As the AIDA winners are announced in the beginning of June, Genesin begins work on the redevelopment of the Myer Centre Adelaide’s food court and a new burger bar on The Parade. He also continues to build his residential portfolio with a new house in North Adelaide and a renovation in Port Elliot. It’s an exciting time for the studio and one in which they may very well be sending a number of trophies straight to their pool room. Update: Genesin Studio won two AIDA awards: The Emerging Practice Award and Best in State for SA Residential for the Hazlewood Park Resdence. australianinteriordesignawards.com  genesin.com.au