AWARD | 2024 Australia Design Award

Humilis evokes different senses from visual to feel, engaging everyone to enjoy not just its familiar archetypical practicalities and comfort but its modern sculptural charm for something surprising and unique.

With 360-degree views, Humilis takes on its own unique personality.

The longer your stare lingers, the more Humilis reveals of itself in detail and gracefulness. Almost every angle offers a new perspective to hone in on.

Most commonly experienced from behind placed around a table, your eye naturally draws to the delicately light yet structurally robust backrest perched on the back rail.

As you move closer you absorb the gentle curve of the backrest nesting into the back rail.

As your hand cusps the chair to sit, your fingers feel the subtle arris of the edges and experience the softened bevel detail to touch.

When your back connects with the backrest you experience an unexpected comfort from the carefully curated angle supporting your lower lumber precisely.

Its level of comfort is a pleasant surprise when you nestle in at your dining table.

The aspiration behind the Humilis chair design was driven by the desire to showcase an elite level of Australian craftsmanship, celebrate the art of furniture making in Australia, and to honour the archetypical solid wood chair in a fresh contemporary context.

The execution of a minimalist design language is often deceivingly complex. The compound splay angle legs offer a sculptural subtle detail however increase the intricacy level dramatically. The flush joints mean there is nowhere to hide and are unforgiving down to the half millimetre. The ‘floating’ solid wood backrest must cup the back rail with ultra-precision. Common techniques in Australian manufacture would tend towards steam bending to execute the sculptural backrest, however typical flex in steam-bent timber forms was not precise enough. Instead, it is carved to exact dimensions from a solid block of timber. A true testament to the elite excellence of craftsmanship in Australia.

Crucially Humilis is crafted from FSC certified solid wood. Forest Stewardship Council certification ensures the timbers used to create Humilis are from responsibly managed forests both environmentally and socially.