Building the adult playground.

no one blends styles better than hecker, phelan & guthrie.




above: event space at flemington racecourse





above: st. ali outpost





above: ivy venue


The interiors designed by this Melbourne-based firm are a veritable grab bag from the last five centuries. You’re just as likely to see a Louis XVI chair in neon pink as you are a Mies van der Rohe sofa or a floral print lamp shade of unknown origin – often times all in the same room. The result is a feast for the senses.

Their portfolio is vast, ranging from sleek and modern residences and retail spaces to projects like the 65,000 square ft. “hospitality venue,” Ivy, in Sidney, a landscaped public oasis that includes eighteen bars, nine restaurants, two penthouse suites, a ballroom, a rooftop pool and a sunken courtyard. Even more eye-catching is their 2008 event space at Melbourne’s Flemington Racecourse.

The company hosting the event was tired “of all the bling and superficiality” of most corporate events and hired HP&G to bring their trademark playfulness and sense of humor to the traditional atmosphere. They came up with a “frivolous and cheeky temporary marquee” where guests could experience classic horse racing at its most exaggerated – “think Pimms on the lawn, vintage furniture, English china, strawberries and cream, British fusion tunes and waitresses in 50s-inspired dresses serving high tea.”

A space like this forces you to leave your pretensions at the door so even the stuffiest of stuffed shirts can laugh, relax and have a good time.

designer: hecker, phelan & guthrie



about perrin drumm