Trends & Movements Archives

Brutalist Architecture: The Resurgence Inspiring Modern Design

Brutalist architecture, renowned for its straightforward, raw construction using primarily concrete, thrived from the 1950s to the mid-1970s. This style is rooted in the concept of “béton brut” or “raw concrete,” a term popularised by British architects Alison and Peter Smithson. The defining features of Brutalist buildings include their massive rugged forms and an …

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Australian Design: The Rise of Adaptive Reuse

Trends & Movements / By Amy Sellick

Transforming Heritage Spaces in Australian Architecture In the evolving landscape of Australian design and architecture, adaptive reuse emerges as a pioneering approach, embodying innovation and sustainability. This approach to Australian architecture repurposes heritage buildings for contemporary use. Consequently, adaptive reuse markedly conserves resources and enriches communities with historical and cultural depth. Furthermore, built cities like …

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Good Design Transcends Time

Trends & Movements, Design Inspiration / By Amy Sellick

When it comes to design, there are certain shapes, styles, and principles which always stand the test of time. Good design is forever, just as certain fashion trends are always in style. With the right elements, it becomes easy to determine what type of design is considered good and what is a passing trend. Good …

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Good Design: Building Good and Long-Lasting Relationships

General, Pen News, Pen Products, Trends & Movements / By Amy Sellick

A Studio Focus on Our Partnerships Good design we believe lasts a lifetime. It is meaningful, relevant, authentic and quality. At Pen we create objects that are ‘good design’. In order to deliver good design for our customers we must first surround ourselves with good people. During 2020 we spent time re-evaluating our manufacturing processes and …

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Australian Design and Architecture: Cabin Fever

Trends & Movements / By Samantha

The Rise of the Cabin: Exploring Its Growing Influence in Australian Design and Architecture Part 2: Materials Australian hardwoods, corrugated iron and stainless steel fittings. Australian-designed and made cabins are both immediately obvious and appealing. We’re lucky because our natural environment serves up strong and textured set of materials. Our indigenous culture inspires rich …

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Cabin fever: Part 1

Design Inspiration, Trends & Movements / By Samantha

Why the humble cabin has raised in prominence in Australian architecture & design Words by Corinne Roberts At Made by Pen we know we’re not alone in loving cabins. They have captured zeitgeist. Cabins are usually built from basic but good quality materials and demonstrate to us how one small space can serve many functions. …

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Linea Organiser: De-Cluttering for Beauty and Space

Trends & Movements / By Samantha

De-Cluttering Means Choosing Well – Making the Most of Beauty and Space As the new year unfolds, we at Pen have embraced the cleansing bug with vigour. This past week marked a significant milestone as we undertook an essential organization and tidy-up of our studio, with our Linea organisers proving indispensable. Refreshed and ready, we’re …

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