From Sydney to Melbourne, passing through Brisbane, The Stella Collective subtly imposes its refined exoticism in Australian interior architecture. With a solar and golden palette, soft materials, and subtly sophisticated simplicity, the studio tells sunny stories and imbues the space with a particular atmosphere for each project. This sensitivity is driven by its founder, Hana Hakim. About twenty years ago, she escaped the gray skies of London to join the gentle sun of Melbourne and, following her ambition, immersed herself in this small world that was not initially meant for her. Born to a Syrian father who paved the way in France and England, Hana inherited a great curiosity for cultures and influences, always infusing her projects with narratives. A recent example? A residential project in Dubai drawing inspiration from the modernism of 1970s Arabia. Let’s dive in.
Lancemore Hotel Milawa by The Stella Collective © Lillie Thompson
What time and day is it? What are you doing at this time of the week?
« It’s Saturday evening, it’s 6:57 PM. We have just photographed our recent project in Dubai, Casa Amal. I am sitting in the hotel room, looking at the images with a big smile. Usually, I am about to sit down and watch Below Deck with my fabulous husband! »
Casa Amal by The Stella Collective © Lillie Thompson
Your mood in one word?
Lancemore Hotel Milawa by The Stella Collective © Lillie Thompson
The project that has kept you most occupied in recent months?
« Casa Amal! We created this house from A to Z during the pandemic. Working on such an exotic design was a way to escape! Today, we all feel the magic, the love emanating from it. All designers know this feeling, such happiness and pride in the heart. »
Casa Amal by The Stella Collective © Lillie Thompson
What are the inspirations?
« Casa Amal is a project deeply inspired by the modernist era of 1970s Arabia. A period that marked the beginning of the modern renaissance in the fields of architecture and thought, but it’s also a divine and warm home, an oasis of purity and light. »
An upcoming project?
« We are currently working on an apartment from the 80s located on Noosa Beach in Australia. We love breathing new life into old gems, knowing that in Australia, the 80s era is a bit dated! With this project, we are exploring a new way of experiencing the tropics in Australia with sensuality, harmony, light, naturalness… Our palette is rough and golden, offsetting the blue of the ocean and the tops of tropical trees. »
A material you recently used?
« Blue Colbert Zellige tiles and curved clay bricks that create light and texture, dancing on soft materials. »
What has influenced and shaped your taste?
« Undoubtedly, my Syrian heritage – my father immigrated from Aleppo, Syria at the age of 20 to settle in France and later in England. His enthusiasm for the world and culture deeply encouraged me to see the ingenuity and beauty of design in older worlds, those that came before us. The gift he gave me by passing on a beautiful heritage plays a crucial role in my work. »
A color palette that has always accompanied you?
« I am a staunch advocate of simplicity – so our finishes are never too complicated – although I am a big fan of designers who use bolder finishes, I think my soul is more at ease in clean lines, grand proportions, soothing textures, and finishes rather than bold colors. But I am also willing to embark on color bombardments as long as they are not too permanent. »
MA Financial, Sydney by The Stella Collective © Lillie Thompson
Two words to describe your style?
Villa Joseph by The Stella Collective © Lillie Thompson
«A book: Modernist Beirut ; A movie: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, for all the glamour of Villefranche-sur-Mer; A TV series: Top Boy, for the gritty and wonderful side of London that people don’t really know. »
The artist you’d like to have dinner with?
« The American musician Axl Rose! I’m throwing a message in a bottle: Axl, if you’re reading this, can I take care of your house?
The last place that fascinated you?
« Athens: a beautiful and unexpected city, gritty yet splendid. »
The cultural place you could return to every day?
« The Wat Arun temple in Bangkok – just to gaze at it above the Cho Prayer River. Not far away, there’s a bar built of wood and corrugated metal on the river where you can help yourself to beers from the fridge. It’s old Bangkok, and that’s where I feel most at home. »
The architect who would build the house of your dreams?
« After drooling over his work lately, Tarek Shamma. or MORQ. »
The artist you’re currently listening to on repeat?
« Hermanos Gutierrez, and all those from my Cult Stella playlist on Spotify. »
