Fitzroy is a lively area of Melbourne known for its tree-lined streets, historic buildings, diverse community, and a vibrant art and design scene. Its bubbling creative energy has drawn Australian architects and interior designers to the neighborhood that’s now dotted with many studios. Fitzroy also has a fascinating architectural history. Its origins date back to the 1830s, when it was one of Melbourne’s first suburbs. Since then, it has undergone a number of transformations, evolving from a working-class district to a cultural hotspot with a mix of Victorian architecture and contemporary buildings, all located just a stone’s throw from Melbourne’s central business district.
Fitzroy, and more specifically Gertrude Street, is also where you’ll find the two-room apartment of interior designers Mitchell Zurek and Andy Kelly, located above their gallery, Oigåll Projects. “The gallery came about almost by chance. We bought the building without any specific plans, then decided to convert the upstairs into a home and the first floor into an office and exhibition space for our furniture design agency, Brud Studia,” the designers explain. During the pandemic, the couple exhibited art by their network of creative friends to keep the space active. Starting with an impromptu selection of pieces, the space gradually evolved into a permanent gallery, taking over the Brud Studia workspace. For last year’s annual Melbourne Design Week, held in late May each year, the home hosted Design House, “a celebration of conceptual design in context with functional art.”
The apartment is a testament to Kelly and Zurek’s creative vision and sense of design and a reflection of the duo’s cultural and artistic pursuits. “Our minimalist lifestyle is far removed from consumerism and characterized by simplicity and an absence of excess. The apartment reflects our preference for clean lines and functionality.” The building dates back to the last decade of the 19th century, placing it at the transition from Victorian to early Federation styles, to use the Australian term (on January 1, 1901, the federation of Australia united six previously separate colonies into the Commonwealth of Australia). The exterior has exposed brickwork, woodwork details, and a façade typical of a Victorian-era pub, reflecting its original use. Over the years, the building has undergone major alterations while also deteriorating considerably due to a lack of maintenance. The duo had to essentially start from scratch, undertaking structural repairs and the restoration of original elements, returning the building to its former glory while adapting it to its new uses.
The interior designers’ goal was to turn this small apartment into a minimalist backdrop for entertaining and living with the contemporary design objects they collect. The interior features brushed aluminum, polished stainless steel, and a palette of neutral tones. Their material choices, the natural wood flooring, and the off-white walls coexist seamlessly with the geometry of shapes and the purity of the apartment’s lines. The kitchen with its brushed metal island manages to both make a bold statement and embody a sense of serene simplicity. Two high wooden chairs and a foam sofa painted in latex add their own personality and touches of craft color.
In this warmer, Australian take on minimalism, the furniture as well as the works of art and decorative objects come mainly from designers that the couple has collaborated with through their gallery. The result is a unique but cohesive aesthetic that combines art and design in a space that is both a welcoming home and a professional showroom. Another secret ingredient of the designers is their—and their dog’s—sense of humor. “In the living room, a window overlooks the canopy of Gertrude Street and in front of it is our favorite Brud Studia piece. From the shower and the hallway, you have a perfect view out the window. Bruce, our Italian greyhound, always manages to open the bathroom door and you then find yourself taking a shower looking out at the trees. It’s our favorite view in the apartment!”
