New Zealand's new premier decorative arts and design gallery, the Blumhardt Gallery, will be designed by Wellington's Kebbell Daish with industrial designers Robbie Greig and Bernd Benninghoff, the winners of a national competition to design the interior.

This exhibition furniture is comprised of a system of folded aluminium sheets that take the form of abstracted people holding up the bar. In addition to reminding us of the inevitable human body that lingers around all great design...New Zealand's new premier decorative arts and design gallery, the Blumhardt Gallery, will be designed by Wellington's Kebbell Daish with industrial designers Robbie Greig and Bernd Benninghoff, the winners of a national competition to design the interior.

This exhibition furniture is comprised of a system of folded aluminium sheets that take the form of abstracted people holding up the bar. In addition to reminding us of the inevitable human body that lingers around all great design...... these figures are simply constructed, economic, accessible to a number of different audiences, expandable and adaptable. They populate the gallery like waiting staff for a party at your place: they serve up great design.

MATERIALS:
Wood, paint finished folded aluminium sheet, and miscellaneous accessories (lights, fixings etc)

CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES:
Water cut aluminium, machine folding, and hand crafted laminated timber.

A partnership between the Blumhardt Foundation and The Dowse in Lower Hutt, the gallery is scheduled to open in February as part of The Dowse's major redevelopment designed by Athfield Architects.

The Blumhardt Foundation was established in 2004 by acclaimed potter Dr Doreen Blumhardt, to collect and display the best examples of applied arts and design and promote educational opportunities for young and established artists and designers.

The Foundation invited designers to register their interest in designing the exhibition furniture and joinery earlier in the year. Concept design proposals were evaluated by a panel of assessors, including Justine Olsen, The Blumhardt Foundation; Claire Regnault and Aaron Te One The Dowse; John Hardwick Smith of Athfield Architects and Douglas Lloyd Jenkins, design commentator.

"The Gallery needs to be flexible, exhibiting a range of diverse material from motorcycles to jewellery, fashion to glass and as such requires clever display and storage solutions," said Dennis McKinlay, Chairperson, Blumhardt Foundation.

"Kebbell Daish's innovative modular concept is conceptually very exciting, original in its design and very thoughtful in terms of a gallery for decorative arts. We have no doubt the Blumhardt Gallery will be an outstanding example of New Zealand design which is what the Blumhardt Foundation is all about."

Kebbell Daish, a small research and design partnership between John Daish and Sam Kebbell has produced a number of commercial and residential interiors.

"We are delighted to be designing the Blumhardt Gallery," said John Daish.

"We are absolutely thrilled there will be a gallery dedicated to design and the decorative arts and the shift in culture that will inevitably come from that. We are doubly excited about contributing to this."

The Dowse Director, Tim Walker, said the partnership with the Blumhardt Foundation will result in an unparalleled decorative arts and design exhibition facility offering opportunities for artists and designers unequalled throughout New Zealand.

For more information contact:

Justine Olsen, Blumhardt Foundation: 027 2310128, 04 475 7091, olsen.smith@paradise.net.nz

Sam Kebbell or John Daish: 04 384 5866, hello@kebbelldaish.co.nz

Tim Walker, Director ,The Dowse Museum: (04) 560 1480 (wk), 0274 348825
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The Blumhardt Foundation was established in 2004 by acclaimed New Zealand potter and educator Doreen Blumhardt to support and develop decorative arts and design in New Zealand. The Blumhardt Foundation is the outcome of her long-held dream "to ensure that New Zealand's rich tradition of decorative arts and design is celebrated, cherished and nourished." Founding partners are The Dowse, the National Library and Creative New Zealand.

Anna Burtt
Communications and Commercial Manager

The Dowse
45 Laings Road
PO Box 30 396
Lower Hutt
NEW ZEALAND
DDI : 64 4 560 1477
mobile : 021 384443
fax : 64 4 569 5877
website www.dowse.org.nz
The countdown is on! as the stunning 'new' Dowse prepares to re-launch in style in February 2007

The Dowse closed it's doors for a major building redevelopment in September 2005. Since then demolition and construction has forever changed the face of much-loved Dowse - and definitely for the better! The Athfield Architects design includes over 60% more exhibition space, multipurpose indoor & outdoor facilities, and a spectacular cafe and destination store. The exciting opening programme of exhibitions and events is shaping up to bring you the very best in New Zealand and International creativity and innovation - from ceramics to cyber-art, photography to fashion, fine art to family fun - as always there will be something for everyone. For updates on the building progress and scheduled events check www.dowse.org.nz

While we are closed, Dowse staff will still be located at The Dowse, 45 Laings Rd, Lower Hutt and can be contacted on the same ph & email extensions.