Natural Brutalism

Natural Brutalism - As Part of Melbourne Design Week

Natural Brutalism is an exhibition where creativity and sustainability converge through the work of Capra Designs and Anna Sassi Studio.

Part of Melbourne Design Week 2025, the exhibition invites visitors to explore the tactile beauty of cork — a material that balances raw elegance with environmental responsibility.

Blending Capra Designs’ contemporary product design with Anna Sassi’s surface design, the show explores how bold geometry and artful texture can reimagine interior spaces.

Presented as part of Melbourne Design Week 2025
Curated by the NGV and supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria.

Facade Side table

Material Natural cork

Design Adapted from Anna Sassi’s Facade textile design, this CNC-cut cork piece sits somewhere between sculpture and furniture. Whether used as a stool or side table, its precise form highlights the potential of cork when shaped with digital tools. The piece reflects a meeting point between natural material and modern making — a quiet study in texture, geometry, and sustainable design.⁣

Colonna Lamp

Material Natural cork

Design Inspiration: Adapted from Anna Sassi’s Colonna textile design - a grand geometric design inspired by the Colonne di San Lorenzo a grand colonnade consisting of 16 tall Corinthian columns, the most famous Roman ruins in Milan.

Pablo Wall tiles

Material Smoked cork

Design Adapted from Anna Sassi’s Pablo textile design, these cork wall tiles explore how a simple, sustainable material can transform a space. With their soft texture, natural warmth, and sound-dampening qualities, the tiles offer a quiet elegance. Their use highlights cork’s potential beyond the expected — as both a practical and expressive element in contemporary interiors.⁣

Scala Breeze blocks

Material Natural cork

Design Adapted from Anna Sassi’s Scala textile design. An elegant stepped geometric motif inspired by 1940's architecture.

Cinzia Sconce

Material Natural cork

Design Adapted from Anna Sassi’s Cinzia textile design. A cheeky twist on a classic stripe. The right balance of proportions and style are paramount to creating an attractive stripe. Cinzia boasts good looks and a lot of personality.

Photography by Eve Wilson

Melbourne Design Week is an initiative of the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria and is curated and delivered by the National Gallery of Victoria.

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