We’ve often found that if you dig into history, you can unearth gold. In the world of design – be it graphic or architectural – drawing on heritage can add character and authenticity. In property marketing it can signal trust, quality and craftsmanship.
When we were approached by Eton Projects to develop a brand for this boutique apartment project in Glen Iris, which features a heritage house at the front of the site, our natural first step was to take a deeper look into the story behind the property.
This house was built in 1910, and was designed by prolific British-born, Australian architect Robert J Haddon, who became known for his works inspired by the Art Nouveau movement. His style was distinctive for its balanced asymmetry, ornate decoration on plain surfaces and his use of wrought iron and terracotta.
On further diving, we discovered Haddon was also an accomplished artist who had painted over 100 watercolours of local landscapes, all of which were available, out of copyright and in high resolution in the State Library of Victoria.
We grounded the visual identity for The Haddon with this story. Fonts and graphic elements lean into the Art Nouveau style with elegant forms and ornamental flourishes on plain backgrounds. A colour palette of red brick, ox blood and terracotta draw on the materiality of local federation homes from the era. And Haddon’s beautiful watercolours? Not only have these been used on printed material but they will be framed and hung within the project’s common areas to become a vital connection between past and future.
