By Greg Natale
Embracing the complex combination of roles of architect, builder, interior designer and client, Greg Natale embarked on the detailed renovation of a building in Sydney’s Surry Hills for the practice’s brand new headquarters. The existing 1960’s building was stripped to form a generous building of four split levels that comprise an entrance and board room, reception area, meeting rooms, kitchen, staff room, bathroom, showroom, design studio, administration offices, samples library, private office and roof terrace.
Taking as its inspiration the New York townhouse of fashion designer Halston, which was designed by architect Paul Rudolph, this striking space gives a considered and stylish nod to two of Greg Natale’s design muses.
In Paul Rudolph’s design, there is a sense of blurred lines between social and private, and Greg Natale Design’s headquarters references this. The place has a residential ambience, with its inviting sofas, bookshelves and intricate, liveable layers, but it also functions and feels like a studio, with its brickwork, exposed beams, polished plaster on walls and perforated plasterboard on ceilings. It’s a sophisticated workspace that showcases the brand’s aesthetics at every level.
Greg Natale, founder and director of Greg Natale, is a multi-award-winning Australian designer known for his innovative approach to creating highly detailed and uniquely curated spaces. His designs have featured in numerous local and international publications, including Architectural Digest, Elle Decoration, Vanity Fair, Vogue Living and Belle. Among the many awards to his name are Belle Interior Designer of the Year for both 2011 and 2014, and the 2021 Australian House & Garden Room of the Year. He has been named one of The World's Most Influential Designers by AD Mexico and a Design Visionary by Harper's Bazaar Interiors Middle East.
At the core of Greg Natale's intricately layered approach is tailoring to his client's individual tastes and needs. His passion for materiality, colour, pattern, and geometry motivates the designer to consistently explore new avenues and design genres through his work, weaving various references from classic to contemporary into his designs.
Greg has released three books on interior design showcasing his unique style: The Tailored Interior (published by Hardie Grant Books Australia in 2014), The Patterned Interior (published by Rizzoli NY in 2018) and The Layered Interior (published by Rizzoli NY in 2022). He continues to expand his business and currently has his own line of products available online and at the Greg Natale flagship store in Sydney, as well as leading homewares stockists in Australia, North America, Europe and Asia.