Paring back without losing 'interest, joy or a sense of poetry,' Pattern Studio's Lily Goodwin and Josh Cain are naturally drawn to refinement, their interiors honed and textured and evoking the 'essence' of each brief. Here, More Space chats with Lily about Pattern's design approach, the projects that define their studio, and why Mario Bellini’s Camaleonda Sofa makes all of their 1970s dreams come true.
More Space: Hi Lily, how did you and Josh meet and where is Pattern Studio based?
Lily Goodwin: We were both working at a large architectural practice and desired a change of pace and scale. We set up Pattern so we could take on different opportunities and now work directly with one or two clients, splitting our time between Sydney and Byron Bay. It's impressive how much a small but efficient team can achieve.
You have said the book ‘A Pattern Language’ is both a namesake and a big influence for your studio. Can you talk about the subconscious affect of design and how you want people to feel in your spaces?
We feel there are synergies between interior design and hospitality and in that sense, we try to anticipate people’s needs and desires and ensure the space fulfills these as best as possible. Ultimately we want to create environments which enhance or improve the experience. The exact mood or feeling we create will differ depending on the specific project. Maybe it is a feeling of serenity and tranquility, perhaps it is a more upbeat, vibrant ambience like what we created at Nagnata’s Byron Bay Flagship. Or the material palette for the Adytum Day Spa that is arguably heavy, rough, and brutalist in style. There we used sculpted forms and softer geometries to offset this ‘harder’ quality, and developed a custom brick with Natural Brick Co. using recycled content.
Josh Cain and Lily Goodwin are Pattern Studio. Portrait c/o Pattern Studio.
How would you describe your approach to designing, and is there a recent project that best sums up Pattern Studio?
It’s a very dry answer, but our design process involves directly responding to the client’s aspirational brief, functional brief, and the specific project parameters: time frame, budget and delivery method. All design decisions throughout the process then relate back to these parameters. I suppose the more interesting answer to this question is that we initially try to find clarity in the essence of the project, and then work to execute a physical translation of that essence. We try to hold onto that clarity and ensure it's evident in the end result.
We gravitate naturally toward refinement and a lot of our process involves paring things back, though not to the point of removing interest, joy or a sense of poetry. We really question the place of all elements and detailing. Could we simplify this? Make it more elegant? Make it more delightful? Is it absolutely necessary? Those kinds of questions are asked all the way through the process. Perhaps our recent work with Australian fashion and lifestyle brand Deiji explains this. We conceived a space that speaks to the brand, feeling at once novel and interesting, yet with a timeless quality that will endure beyond trend cycles.
Who are some of your design heroes?
Vivienne Westwood for her legendary spirit; Joost Bakker for his insatiable pursuit of innovative, sustainable design; Constantin Brâncuși for his explorations of form and material; Axel Vervoordt for his commitment to serene, sumptuous minimalism; Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa for their poetic world view; Antti Lovag for his preoccupation with movement and circular geometries; Antoni Gaudi for his psychedelic vision; and Aino and Alvar Aalto for their timelessness.
The Camaleonda sofa designed by Mario Bellini in 1970 was relauched in 2020 to celebrate 50 years with a few tweaks that include a circular material approach to the design. Photo c/o B&B Italia.
'Furniture can really spark joy. There is a character and quality to a space that really can only be brought in through the shapes, forms, sculptural quality of furniture... It's not possible to pick a favourite, but Mario Bellini’s Camaleonda Sofa makes all of our 1970s dreams come true.'
Lily Goodwin, Cofounder, Pattern Studio
You won the 2022 Interior Design Award for Emerging Interior Design Practice for projects that are as diverse in type as they are in location. Can you talk about the diversity of talent in your collaborators.
We have been fortunate to work with a wide range of clients, some very established and others brand new. There is an ease to working with a really established client, where the knowledge of their brand and identity is really sound. That clarity is there from day one and they know innately what will and won’t fly from a design perspective. Working with younger, newer brands and companies offers more opportunity to inform the broader creative direction, ensuring that the physical space is a really cohesive extension of the brand itself. This can be a really fulfilling and exciting process.
Is there a project that helped launch your studio?
Our first project in Australia was the Melbourne flagship for Australian accessories brand The Daily Edited. Before that we had been flying more or less under the radar, working on sets and events for luxury fashion brands in Europe and the United States. The tde. flagship received some great recognition and exposure, landing our small studio on the pages of some exciting publications.
The calm refinement of the Adytun Spa Canberra by Pattern Studio, and following. Photos c/o Pattern Studio.
The Camaleonda sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia has established itself as an icon of furniture design. Photo c/o B&B Italia.
Three Blue Ducks Melbourne, here and following, by Pattern Studio finds warmth in its material palette. Photos c/o Pattern Studio.
Urbnsurf in Melbourne by Pattern Studio, and following. Photos c/o Pattern Studio.
No. 92 in Glebe by Pattern Studio, here and following, is filled with layers of soft colour and natural texture. Photos c/o Pattern Studio.
'We gravitate naturally toward refinement and a lot of our process involves paring things back, though not to the point of removing interest, joy or a sense of poetry. We really question the place of all elements and detailing. Could we simplify this? Make it more elegant? Make it more delightful?..'
Lily Goodwin, Cofounder, Pattern Studio
The crafted communal table at No. 92 by Pattern Studio. Photo c/o Pattern Studio.
Beyond trends, furniture has a way of defining the moment, making us happy and influencing the way we live. Your interiors have such a strong synergy with the furniture you select or design for them. What is your approach to interiors on that granular level?
Furniture can really spark joy. There is a character and quality to a space that really can only be brought in through the shapes, forms, sculptural quality of furniture. Furniture is our mechanism not only to offer inhabitants comfort, but to add layers of interest and character. Our approach at that detailed level within a space is to give consideration to balance, scale, form, proportion, making sure all of the elements, including furniture, are working harmoniously.
Do you have a favourite piece of furniture, and why did it catch your eye?
It's not possible to pick a favourite, but Mario Bellini’s Camaleonda Sofa makes all of our 1970s dreams come true.
What’s currently on the Pattern drawing board?
More residential projects featuring some special furniture pieces… so watch this space.
In terms of creative escapes, where are you travelling to next and what books are you reading?
I'm escaping to Taormina (via White Lotus for now) and reading ‘Olafur Eliasson: Experience’.
Thanks Lily, great chatting with you!
In 2022 Pattern Studio was a joint winner of the Australian Interior Design Award for Emerging Interior Design Practice. The award is proudly supported by Space Furniture.
