Unlike the rest of us, New Zealand-born designer Jun Kim is not slowed by a pandemic. In fact, he’s ramped things up.
In addition to the interior design projects he completes with his wife Angella under their four-year-old practice, Studio Keemm, and freelance architecture projects, Jun has now launched Oure – a brand building thoughtful, handcrafted furniture designed and made from his studio in Marrickville.
But it’s probably fair to say Jun’s always had a lot of projects on the go. After studying architecture in Wellington and working for years as a graduate architect, he moved to Sydney to study object design at UNSW, and later established Studio Keemm with Angella. Juggling many different design hats is just the way he operates, so he naturally views his latest pursuit as a transition rather than a deviation.
‘While I was working in architecture, I was always fascinated to see how different designs in furniture and other smaller objects could dramatically change a space,’ Jun explains. ‘I’ve always been interested in furniture and objects, as I’ve thought of them as smaller scaled architecture.’
It was during his time as a freelance interior designer that Jun developed the prototypes for the first collection of furniture, two of which have just been released. Among these is the Pop side table – a sure-fire hit (we’re calling it!). Crafted from solid timber, three ovaltine, paddle-like legs protrude above the flat table surface, and give the appearance of each component slotting perfectly in place. The second is the Ette stool, consisting of an elegant timber A-frame and sharp, razor-thin seat.
Jun’s completed pieces are underpinned by a fascination with simple geometry and clean minimalism. ‘We like designs that are bold, yet simultaneously understated,’ says Jun. ‘We believe good design should not demand attention, but still have a presence.’
Check out Oure’s range here. For up-to-date information and product previews, visit their Instagram here.
