A chunky, wedge-shaped island crafted from plaster and beeswax anchors the sparse interior of this pop-up library, shop and exhibition space that design studio Pattern has created in Canberra.
The temporary library is situated in the trendy suburb of Braddon and belongs to new Australian wellness brand Adytum, which produces eco-conscious self-care products such as teas, face oils and bath soaks.
Adytum Library is anchored by a huge island
Although the brand is set to open the doors to its first spa in 2021, it was keen to conceive a slightly different style of wellness space that instead celebrates books and the "intellectual nourishment one receives from the written word".
Sydney-based studio Pattern ? which is also developing the interiors of Adytum's spa ? was asked to design the library. The brand's key request was that the pop-up had minimal environmental impact. Books and products from Adytum are displayed across the island
With this in mind, Pattern ditched the idea of overhauling the entire retail unit and instead created just one striking element ? a huge wedge-shaped island that sits at the centre of the floor plan, built around two existing structural columns.
"While we didn't have a tenancy of cathedral-like proportions to work with, we drew inspiration from the concepts of purity, simplicity, and clarity often found in religious architectural spaces," Pattern's co-founder, Lily Goodwin, told Dezeen.
Incense is burned in the pop-up throughou...