WINNER

Nathan Louey’s Sandstone Woodlands emerged as the clear winner of our customisation competition, impressing the judges with its unique design and profound connection to Sydney’s landscape. His design evokes the city’s natural beauty, drawing inspiration from the jagged sandstone outcrops and rich woodlands of Sydney. His concept—centred around the interplay between nature’s forces and the built environment—the horizontal endless connection harmonises with the land’s stories. The design demonstrated an outstanding understanding of our brief, customisation techniques, and product application.

HONOURABLE MENTION

Winter Cashmere by Brooke Aitken earns an honourable mention for its zen-like elegance and exquisite design restraint. Using the delicate herringbone Woven Cashmere tile as a base, Brooke added a sandblasted layer with neutral lacquered colorways. The graphic design introduces a darker, pencil-etched pattern reminiscent of winter branches without leaves. These intentional and confident markings accentuate the V-shaped weave, adding bold sensory texture to the herringbone and evoking a sense of Japanese minimalism.

SANDSTONE WOODLANDS

By Nathan Louey

What makes Sydney, Sydney? In many discussions within
the design realm about the overarching “Australian
Aesthetic,” we often overlook the nuances of each
unique Australian location’s visual culture and
surrounding context. Integrating visual cues from
Sydney’s natural environment is crucial for creating
spaces that connect to the land, both from the interior
and exterior of the built envelope.
Sydney is a lush, sandstone city rich in water and
biodiversity. Embracing these aspects of this unique
landscape allows us to experience the stories, culture,
and aesthetics of this remarkable city.
This panel represents the jagged, organic sandstone
and densely vegetated rocky outcrop that rises
above the waves. The red colour symbolizes the rich
woodlands of the Sydney Red Gum (Angophora
costata). Honeycomb weathering, also known as
tafoni, dots the sandstone coastline, showcasing the
contingent forces that shape the coastal landscape.
Just as the wind, rain and waves shape the landscape
into beautiful patterns, we too can carve out a
positive imprint on our environment, creating a lasting
legacy that harmonises with the stories of the land.