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When ELLISON STUDIOS. founder and CEO Leigh McKeown started conjuring up ideas for the brand’s first pop-up in Melbourne, he kept returning to a quote from Andy Warhol.
‘The lobbies are always the best-looking place in the hotel — you wish you could bring out a cot and sleep in them. Compared to the lobby, your room always looks like a closet,’ the artist famously said.
As a self-professed ‘hotel junkie’ who’s stayed in some of the world’s best, Leigh envisioned setting up a transient in-person events space and showroom where people from all over could come together and interact with the brand’s pieces first-hand. Much like a hotel lobby.
Then, the stars aligned as he discovered the ultimate location to host it: the Conways Building — a century-old former department store on Chapel Street — in Prahran.
Built in 1914 and originally designed by Tompkins and Tompkins, the space was being refurbished at the time of the first inspection. But beyond all the dust, Leigh was instantly taken with the enchanting parquetry floors, 20-foot ceilings, and heritage windows.
‘The Lobby is designed much like the best hotel lobbies — a sequence of loosely defined spaces that encourage people to settle in, rather than simply pass through,’ Leigh says of the temporary installation.
‘We wanted to avoid the feeling of a traditional showroom, where everything sits neatly on display. Instead, the pieces are part of the environment. The idea is that people experience the furniture as they would in real life.’
In the main lounge, there’s an epic 15-seat version (perhaps their largest installation yet!) of the Float Sofa accompanied by the new ultra-fluffy Ultimate Shag rug. Nearby, the Contour Shelf houses a record player and a rotating stack of vinyls that’s become a kind of ‘sink-in-and-listen’ zone.
Artworks curated by Sydney gallery Hake House help set the mood, complete with elegant accent chairs from the brand’s ever-growing collections, a pool table, and a mirrored desk where visitors can check in to the immersive setting.
There’s also a series of more intimate seating arrangements where designers can meet with clients or review finishes from the ELLISON STUDIOS. product library.
‘We’re treating The Lobby a little like a cultural residency rather than a static showroom. Over the coming months, there will be a series of moments that bring the space to life, from informal design gatherings and industry conversations, through to evening events,’ Leigh adds.
‘Expect after-work drinks and the occasional impromptu DJ set.’
While The Lobby will initially be open to designers and trade clients only via private events and bookings, customers will later be able to explore the space when it opens to the public after Easter.
Learn more about The Lobby by ELLISON STUDIOS. and book a visit here.
The Lobby
1/249 Chapel Street
Prahran VIC 3181
