Introducing Armadillo’s New Melbourne Home
A contemporary reimagining of a historic Fitzroy warehouse.
Armadillo is excited to announce the opening of the brand’s new showroom and retail space in Melbourne. Located in a carefully restored warehouse in the heart of Fitzroy the showroom is at home amongst the neighborhood's eclectic mix of design studios, art galleries and homewares stores. Imagined as a serene destination for both trade and retail clients across Melbourne, the showroom is open Monday to Saturday, with no appointment necessary.
Styling Joseph Gardner. Photography Sharyn Cairns.
"Over the years we’ve been lucky to collaborate with leading-lights in the Melbourne design community and it feels important to have an equally inspiring space to house our collection and continue building these relationships."
Sally Pottharst, Armadillo’s Co-Founder
“The materials we chose with David were selected to make the space feel warm and inviting. We wanted to conjure a more refined aesthetic that also made for a compelling contrast against the raw materials of the original facade.”
Jodie Fried, Armadillo’s Co-Founder
“During the build we tried to keep as much of the heritage fabric visible as we could but at the same time create a more contemporary layer that represents where Fitzroy is at now.” adds David Goss.
From a product perspective, the showroom reimagines the traditional model for rug retailing and instead takes cues from the experience of a bespoke tailor; incorporating rails of garment sized samples that allow clients to discover Armadillo’s quality, composition, and depth of color in a simple and more elegant way.
Reiterating Armadillo’s position as a purpose driven brand, sustainability and environmental impact were vital considerations in the design of the showroom.
"The Melbourne showroom has an Endorsed Sustainable Design Assessment from the City of Yarra and we’re proud to be using rainwater tanks and solar panels to help offset our greenhouse gas emissions. Any additional energy is purchased only from environmentally conscious suppliers meaning that all of our Australian showrooms now operate entirely on green power." says Alarna Rose, Armadillo’s Head of Purpose.
The Melbourne site marks Armadillo’s sixth physical incarnation of the brand and follows the recent opening of a new flagship in San Francisco’s Presido Heights neighborhood. With existing sites in Los Angeles, New York, Brisbane and Sydney, this international portfolio of design-led spaces are set to provide a compelling backdrop to Armadillo’s next chapter.
