Henne has opened a new store in Armadale, Melbourne – a continuation of its measured move from digital label to physical presence. Designed in collaboration with Alexandra Ponting of AP Design House, the space engages the industrial lineage of Australia’s fashion industry. Fronting High Street, the interiors are both familiar and distinct, continuing Henne’s gradual evolution.
The boutique references 1980s and 1990s Australian rag-trade warehouses, alchemised for contemporary use. In this approach, architectural features – stainless and galvanised steel, concrete, mirror and trapeze lighting – are juxtaposed against original brickwork and exposed timber trusses, that were preserved. Brick tiles on the floor echo the walls, while the rebuilt ceiling – timber boards left to age – and the natural light that filters through restored skylights give the long plan a sense of permeability and volume.
“The space was a great shell. We stripped it back to its rawest form, retaining 6 rear skylights, some timber trusses and the original brick walls. These elements carry so much history and interest – it would have been a shame to remove them,” says Alexandra. “The earthen materials provide a grounding environment that welcomes connection and epitomises permanence.”
The approach yields a tonal palette comprising brick, steel and timber. While mid-century furniture is interspersed with vintage Italian lighting and worn leather, worked in to complement the brand’s aesthetic of minimal and considered forms.
“The contemporary details, set against the rustic foundations of brick and timber, create a dynamic tension that elevates the space,” adds Alexandra. “The space reflects Henne’s values not through excess, but through precision – through the interplay of light and surface, repetition and stillness.” Additional finishes include mirror glass, concrete, canvas and various steels, offering a lightness in contrast to the earthen finishes.
For AP Design House, the project extended their design ethos into a commercial typology. “Our strong foundation in residential interior architecture, along with our inherent ethos to listen to the history of a structure contributed to APDH creating a retail space that feels homely, yet considered. We transformed the space, but we did it in a respectful way,a” shares Alexandra. “We were able to push our natural design ethos in a bolder way with the project being a commercial one. In saying that, I would live in a space like this.”
As with Henne’s earlier stores, the design doesn’t mimic the brand – it interprets it. “The process with our client from start to completion. It was effortless and natural. There is a shared respect and confidence from business to business and that shows in the outcome,” adds Alexandra.
AP Design House: apdesignhouse.com
The Design Team
