While studying at the University of New South Wales, Jade Nottage and Cushla McFadden fostered their love of design. After graduation, McFadden moved to New York, while Nottage began her career in Sydney. “Circumstances drew us back together,” says McFadden, and the duo founded Tom Mark Henry studio in Sydney in 2014.
They’ve since taken on projects, from residential to retail and hospitality, that showcase their meticulous attention to detail, “enabling us to be bold and playful with our material choices,” says Nottage.
Consider Sydney’s sassy C.C. Babcoq rotisserie chicken spot, which draws from the namesake character of beloved 1990s sitcom The Nanny and is infused with “coastal influences to reference the beachside location,” says McFadden. The firm collaborated with mural artist Lymesmith, dipping walls in a breezy pattern evocative of an ocean rock pool seen from an aerial view.
Coastal influences define C.C. Babcoq in Sydney
In contrast, the intimate yet inviting Ramen Zundo Sapporo in Sydney is “driven by the interplay between elements in traditional and contemporary Japanese culture,” McFadden says. Splashes of color found in furniture and joinery juxtapose a raw palette of concrete, steel, brick, and charred timber. Further, circular and curvilinear forms nod to the word zundo, which references the cylindrical pots used to prepare a hearty bowl of ramen.
Ramen Zundo Sapporo in Sydney draws from Japanese culture
This article originally appeared in HD’s February 2020 issue.
