Bramante's Tempettio

High up on the Gianicolo, on one of the spots where St Peter is believed to have been crucified (St Peter's is another), San Pietro in Montorio conceals one of Rome's greatest architectural jewels: the Tempietto, designed by Donato Bramante in 1508 for Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere.

Considered the first great building of the High renaissance, I had been inspired with the little temple since I began studying architecture in my early twenties. During my first visit to Rome I made the pilgrimage to Montario to marvel at its beauty first hand.

It is architectural perfection. It has a circular interior surrounded by 16 columns and is topped by a classical frieze, an elegant balustrade and a proportionally perfect dome. The small circular structure, with its Doric columns, has classical symmetry that was subsequently imitated by many architects.

The Tempettio remains one of my favourite architectural icons, along with the work of the great Andrea Palladio (who's Italian country villas are of similar architectural perfection). Its understated elegance continues to inspire me today.

Compassionate Voices an exhibition

Compassionate Voices is a unique collaboration between Voiceless, the animal protection institute; Koskela – Australian furniture and homeware designers, and a collection of 31 innovative Australian artists and designers united by their vision of a world where animals are treated with compassion and respect.

Opening night of Compassionate Voices will be a special evening of art, advocacy and creativity in support of Voiceless. Held on 14 August, the gala evening will feature Dr Charlie Teo AM as master of ceremonies, Christie's auctioneer Ronan Sulich, live entertainment and delicious cuisine from Kitchen by Mike. 

Curated by Liane Rossler, and part of Sydney Design, a cutting-edge design festival produced and managed by the Powerhouse Museum, the exhibition will feature artwork and design objects spanning multiple disciplines and a specially commissioned centrepiece by sculptor, Anna-Wili Highfield. All works are available for purchase and will be displayed from 9 August to 7 September at Koskela’s Rosebery exhibition space.

Roos 2013 by Anna-Wili Highfield

Airstream

In 1931, Airstream began with Wally Byam’s dream: to build a travel trailer that would move like a stream of air, be light enough to be towed by a car and create first-class accommodations anywhere.

When it comes to Airstream trailers, I am totally smitten. I dream of the day that I own one myself. It could be a second home, an office or vehicle for luxury travel. It would be custom designed, new or old with a classic, refurbished interior and a gleaming, metallic shell. The shinier, the better. 

Dreaming of your own polished aluminum quarters? Here are some classic midcentury examples that have been inventively restored and put to use as hotel rooms, guest houses, home offices, and in a few cases travel vehicles.

Above: A 1952 model renovated by a yacht interior designer functions as a hotel room at The Hotel Daniel in Vienna.

Above: One of many restored Airstreams seen on Vintage Seekers via Design Sponge.

Above: Landscape architect Andreas Stavropoulos transformed a 1959 Airstream trailer into a fully functioning office.

Above: The accommodations at Atlantic Byron Bay resort include this fully equipped Airstream imported from America.

Above: In Albany, California, just north of Berkeley, is Flowerland nursery with a trailer coffee shop featured on Gardenista.

Above: Vancouver's Le Marché St. George café and grocery crew often picnic and camp out of their 1969 Airstream Land Yacht.

Above: A 1965 Airstream Safari recast by Area 63 Productions and interior designer Caroline Brandesfor rent on her property in Big Sur, California.

The Sir John Soane Museum

When he wasn’t designing notable buildings (among them the original Bank of England), Sir John Soane (1753-1837) obsessively collected art, furniture and architectural ornamentation. In the 19th century, he turned his house into a museum to which, he said, ‘amateurs and students’ should have access. The result is this perfectly amazing place.

Much of the museum’s appeal derives from the domestic setting. The modest rooms were modified by Soane with ingenious devices to channel and direct daylight, and to expand space, including walls that open out like cabinets to display some of his many paintings (Canaletto, Turner, Hogarth). The Breakfast Room has a beautiful domed ceiling, inset with convex mirrors. The extraordinary Monument Court contains a sarcophagus of alabaster, so fine that it’s almost translucent, that was carved for the pharaoh Seti I (1291-78 BC) and discovered in his tomb in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings. There are also numerous examples of Soane’s eccentricity, not least the cell for his imaginary monk ‘Padre Giovanni’.

I was lucky enough to visit the museum on one of my trips to London. Situated just out side of the city at number 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields. The museum itself is a succession of remodelled town houses, purchased and adapted by Soan over a period of 50 years. One particular room, my favorite, is devoted to his historic architectural model collection. Breathtaking but fragile in its original state, the room was closed for several years. It has been recently restored and will soon be reopened to the public.

Kitchen Styling.

Every now and again I am given free reign. It happens often enough when doing commercial work, styling for photo shoots or visual merchandising. But the real thrill is being able to style a clients home, knowing that it is permanent styling to be enjoyed longer term.

This kind of styling must be sympathetic to the design scheme we are implementing for the overall property. In the case of one of our current projects, it certainly was. We added another dimension to the homes modern country interior by layering rustic textures and aged finishes. We used a range of eclectic vintsge objects and authentic country items to achieve this.

We loved the result..

An exhibition

Cafe de Beaumarchais is proud to present an exhibition of drawings and paintings by Melbourne interior designer Justin Bishop. 

The works, which pay homage to the great Hollywood portrait photographers of the 1930's and 1940's, will be on display from the 12th of April to the 31st of May this year.

From an early age, Justin has been fascinated by the imagery of the 'silver screen'. He has found himself mesmerised by the glamorous, theatrical and provocativly dramatic portraits of the major film stars of the era. These portraits have been the inspiration for this collection.

Through his highly detailed mode of illustration, Justin produces large photo realistic portraits, layering a variety of mediums, in an exquisitely distinctive style.

This exhibition is the first time Justin's works have been on public display. Included in the collection are a handful of pieces that Justin created as a child.

Large original works will be available for purchase, with smaller limited edition prints available. Justin is also happy to discuss commissions.

Cafe de Beaumarchais  

372 Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd

Sassafras, Vic. 

03 9755 1100

12 of April to 31st of May 2014

8am to 5pm 7 days.

PAINTINGS

Last year, I looked back at my art work from my college days.

I was reminded of my passion for painting, drawing and illustration. I had forgotten how diverse my skills were, how I loved to experiment with techniques and different drawing styles.

Assuming I still had those skills I picked up some pastels and began to draw. It became apparent after five minutes that they had diminished -  my techniques had become rigid and flat.

Unperturbed, I enrolled in a weekly illustration class determined to regain my skills and techniques. I began to free up my hand. I began to remember tone and texture, highlights and shade.

Thankfully, my skills returned.

After class, in my own studio, I began to paint again and I have since completed some big works. As in college I am using a mix of mediums - paint, charcoal, pastel and pencil. I am working mostly on large 900mm x 1200mm canvases (I love this scale as I can really focus on the finer details of my subjects). I am enjoying the results.

I thought I would share some finished pieces here. An exhibition is now on the cards.

Sydney favourites The Country Trader

Many years ago, I lived in Paddington, in Sydney's inner east. One of my favourite memories while there, was walking along Glenmore road, past grand sandstone terrace houses, through Fiveways and out to Oxford Street. On the corner of Glenmore and Oxford was The Country Trader.  

It was a store like no other. Long before vintage French provincial antiques became overly fashionable and garishly reproduced, this store was the real deal. I visited it often. It was at this store that I first remember feeling a wonderful sense of creative inspiration.

With the philosophy 'Anything is Possible', The Country Trader specialises in new and antique furniture and furnishings from the provincial to the opulent, as well as custom, architectural and interior design, restyling and restoration.

In recent years, The Country Trader has found a new home in the pyd building in Surrey Hills in Sydney's inner south (an area that has rapidly become the hub of interiors 'fashion forward' enthusiasts).

Whenever I am in Sydney I am compelled to drop in. The Country Trader continues to be one of my favourite stores. The stores owner, Geoff Clark, travels the world in search of antiques and one-of-a-kind finds, allowing Sydneysiders to the chance to take a treasure home for themselves.  This applies to breathtaking furniture and woodwork, stunning pieces of art, collectors' items, and much, much more.  

Walking around the store is overwhelming, yet thoroughly inspiring. The large space is filled to the brim with fabulous items and wonderfully theatrical visual merchandising - yet is it not cluttered or claustrophobic. You'll find items of various styles, from eclectic to traditional.  Along with beautiful furniture and lighting, you'll find the unexpected, collections upon collections of breathtaking object d'art.  

To seal the deal the store also houses a selection of the Ralph Lauren furniture range, costly but totally desirable in all it's magnificence. 

The Country Trader

pyd Building, 197 Young Street, Waterloo, New South Wales

Sydney favourites Victor Churchill Butcher

I am not surprised that Victor Churchill Butchers won the International Interior design award for retail stores (held in New York a few years ago) It is one of the most breathtaking stores I have ever seen!

It's hard to believe that you are standing in the middle of a bustling butcher shop. It oozes beauty, character and soul. It is a truly unique store, which has successfully blended a traditional European butcher in look and feel, with modern, cutting-edge design elements. This amazing atmosphere is nurtured by the stores owners, the wonderfully warm and inviting Puharich family.

"As a boy, Anthony Puharich feasted on lamb cooked whole in the garden by his Croatian-born butcher father Victor Puharich, sharing a taste and respect for meat they've never lost. His glamorous meat boutique in Sydney's Woollahra has been dubbed ''the Bulgari of butcheries''. The floor might be Italian marble rather than sawdust, but fifth-generation butcher Puharich still has his feet firmly on the ground. Together with his father, he runs the shop and Vic's Meats, the nation's biggest meat wholesaler, supplying many of Australia's top restaurants, including Vue de Monde, Movida, Sepia and Quay."

Well worth a visit, it is an absolute visual feast.... Oh, and the meat isn't bad either! 

Victor Churchill  Butchers

132 Queen Street Woollahra, New South Wales

 …and Oprah signed her approval!

Sydney favourites Chiswick

This week in Sydney I stumbled across some favourite new destinations; restaurants, stores and other well designed locations...

"Located in the beautiful Sydney suburb of Woollahra, CHISWICK Restaurant is a superb casual dining venue co- owned by Matt Moran and Peter Sullivan. CHISWICK is a neighbourhood restaurant, where the menu is designed for sharing, reflecting the simplicity of great produce and changing seasons. The heart of CHISWICK is its kitchen garden where much of the produce for the menu will be grown. The approach is something altogether more natural, continually evolving, where the emphasis is on where the food comes from and how it is grown.

This iconic restaurant site will remain familiar to locals but has been extensively remodelled; a light filled space with a contemporary dining room, casual bar area with a large communal table and shaded outside seating. A local place, where you can drop in for a quick bite or a drink at the bar, a special celebration with close friends or Sunday lunch with the family."

CHISWICK Restaurant

65 Ocean St Woollahra  

Back to Bank Street

A hidden gem in country Victoria, Bank Street Wood Fire Pizza and Garden is in a class of its own.

I first visited Bank Street in 2012 (http://justinbishop.com.au/blog/2012/4/16/bank-street-wood-fired-pizza-and-garden.html) The cafe, designed, built and operated by my close friends Janelle Toomey and Callum Kaka, is always on my wish list of favourite getaway destinations. 

I'm happy to sit as a guest, enjoying a pizza or a platter, featuring a selection of home grown produce (mixing it perfectly with a local drop of sparkling). This visit, however, we were able to witness some behind the scenes magic as Janelle and Callum prepped seamlessly for this evenings full house of guests. Janelle managed constant calls from last minute hopefuls with finesse, trying to secure them all a table (she hates turning people away). Callum controlled the kitchen effortlessly, stoking their enormous custom built wood fire oven, making perfect dough from scratch and editing a delicious selection of local produce that makes up Bank Streets eclectic pizza menu.

I am always impressed by the creative use of the seasonal fair that makes it's way into the Bank Street Kitchen. This week, for instance, Bluey Shelton, (an ex Essendon Footballer and now local identity) delivered a box of his enormous home grown figs to the kitchen door. Callum had already designed a pizza around these (Fig with prosciutto and blue cheese, topped with rocket and Parmesan). The figs, on occasion, have also found their way into home made ice cream. The cafe sells tubs to take home! 

While the kitchen and cafe bustles with activity, I take the time to revisit Bank Streets exquisite gardens. They extend through the outdoor eating area, through manicured beds edged with English box (and filled a luscious selection of vegetables, herbs and spices). following along pebbled paths that continue on to an ornamental lake. The gardens sit under the canopy of enormous specimen trees that provide shade and shelter for outdoor entertaining throughout the year. (Janelle and Callum have just taken a booking to host a wedding in this very spot!)

Before we know it, it's time to leave, and again I am filled with a sense of loss. It is hard to drag ourselves away from the company of our friends, and the serenity of this idyllic location! 

We will be back soon, to Bank Street! 

Bank Street Wood Fire Pizza and Garden

5 Bank Street, Avenel, Victoria

(03) 5796 2522

GULF STATION YARRA GLEN, VICTORIA

Gulf Station - Melba Highway Yarra Glen, Victoria. 
An absolute gem hidden in Melbourne's Glorious Yarra Valley. My ancestors built this historic farm in the 1850's and lived there for over 100 years. My mother stayed there often as a child. As a young boy, I visited it often too and it's magic continues to captivate me whenever I return. Now owned by the National Trust of Victoria, it remains incredibly intact, as it was 100 years ago. It is maintained by a small army of volunteers (including my mother) and is open to the public throughout January. Well worth a visit!