Relatively Useful by John Wardle & Simon Lloyd at Heide Modern.

Pi R2 A Dining Table (2022), designed by John Wardle, made by Fraser Matheson & Andrew Lowe. 725mm x 1000mm x 1450mm. Tasmanian Oak supplied by Hydrowood, Tasmania.

In Clover Dining Table (2022), designed by John Wardle, made by Bryan Cush. 1100mm x 3200 mm. Tasmanian Leatherwood and Tasmanian Oak supplied by Hydrowood, Tasmania. In the background, Systems Vases (2017-2022) designed by John Wardle & Simon Lloyd. Prototyping and moulds by Simon Lloyd/ Sajo Ceramics; Variable dimensions. Porcelaineous casting slip.

A Low Table for a Rug (2022), designed by John Wardle, made by Adam Browning. 350mm x 700mm x 1190mm. Tasmanian Oak supplied by Hydrowood, Tasmania/ Inax tiles from Artedomus.

Letter Writing Chair (2022), designed by John Wardle. Made by Mari Teed (upholstery) and Charlie Sandford (cruciform base). 785mm x 600mm x 810mm. Cruciform base by Sandford Woodturning and Joinery. Fabric supplied by Kvdarat. Letter Writing Desk (2022), designed by John Wardle, made by Adam Browning. 700mm x 700mm x 500mm. Tasmanian Oak supplied by Hydrowood, Tasmania.

Presented as part of Melbourne Design Week 2022, Relatively Useful is a survey of works in timber, steel and ceramic designed by John Wardle and Simon Lloyd. In realizing their designs, John and Simon have worked with twenty-five local makers resulting in an exhibition set within McGlashan and Everist’s iconic modernist building at Heide.

The humbly powerful showcase celebrates the talent and skill of a range of makers from Melbourne, regional Victoria and Hobart, with the duo describing the pieces as “gradients of collaboration”—designed both individually and together through many conversations and a platform of shared drawings.

Related: Highlights from Melbourne Design Week 2022.

As the founder of a highly acclaimed eponymous architecture practice, John Wardle’s work spans domestic dwellings, university buildings, museums and large commercial offices delivered across Australia. Although his practices’ output works across buildings on a civic scale, John is highly attuned to the importance of detail—it’s through detail, he believes, the nature of the material, the fit to function and the experience of occupation is expressed. His design work spans joinery, furniture and ceramics, the latter of which he’s given as gifts to friends, family, clients and staff for over three decades.

After training in three-dimensional design in the UK, Simon Lloyd established a furniture practice Melbourne in 1988, later working with the Melbourne designer Peter Sands. In 1996 he founded sisu and began to explore the design and manufacture of objects in a smaller scale. These objects investigated a range of materials including ceramics, wood, metal and felt amongst others.

Works in the Relatively Useful exhibition have been made by Sharon Alpren, Kelly Austin, Dan Barker, Adam Browning, Chapman & Bailey, John Cherrey, Bryan Cush, Simeon Dux, Anton Gerner, Wayne Guest, Isabel Avendano Hazbun, Derek Johns, Laura McCusker, Adam Markowitz, Fraser Matheson and Andrew Lowe, Joanne Maggs, Kevin Perkins, Alexsandra Pontonio, Scott Mason and Charlie Sandford and Julia Schreckenbauer and Keith McKay, Sajo Ceramics, Josh Stevens, Mari Teed and Vivienne Wong.

Related: Kew Residence by John Wardle Architects.

Soft: A Low Table (2022), designed by John Wardle, made by Alexsandra Pontonio. 900mm x 1100mm x 395mm. Celerytop Pine supplied by Hydrowood, Tasmania.

Water pitcher (2019-2020), designed by Simon Lloyd. Prototype by Wayne Guest—Silversmith; Production by Cieto Munari Vicenza, Italy. 250 x 140 x 110 mm. Brass sheet, silver and gold plated.

Stool (2019-2022), designed by Simon Lloyd, made by John Cherrey & Mathy Fuller. Ash legs with plywood seat. 70 x 37 x 37 cm r.

[Images courtesy of John Wardle Architects and Heide Museum. Photography by Pier Carthew.]