“Lamella” Chair by Kirsten Stanisich and Jonathan Richards (with Meg Ashforth) in American maple

A Lamella is a small, thin, plate-like structure usually referenced in biology. It can also be used as a reference to armour. Kirsten and Jonathan’s inspiration for this chair cited Japanese medieval armour, and it was conceived as a covering over an existing found or discarded chair, in this case a non-descript 1980’s metal-framed chair with curvilinear arms. Hundreds of timber tiles were painstakingly hand-sewn together, taken apart and reapplied in a time-consuming and complicated exploration of the best way to drape them. A chance encounter with Meg Ashforth, a prominent costume designer on films such as Mad Max: Fury Road, who also has an interest in Japanese historical armour, led to a collaboration, a further six weeks of hand sewing and making, and a piece of furniture that encompasses design, craft, and art. 

Richards Stanisich is a design practice based in Sydney. It was founded in 2019 by Kirsten Stanisich and Jonathan Richards, who had prior worked together for decades, most notably at SJB in Sydney. Qualified in interior design and architecture, the studio has a focus on interior architecture and has a wealth of experience across residential and hospitality projects. In 2019, Kirsten was inducted into the Design Institute of Australia’s Hall of Fame. Both are recipients of the IDEA Gold Medal. Their work is widely published in Australian and international media.