Switched on
Pa s c a l e Gome s - Mcnab b An architect’s home studio is zoned industrious.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STUDIO? High and low decor, a mash-up of classic 20thcentury items and fun, relaxed pieces. It’s tiny, changeable and easily adaptable. I rotate furniture, light ttings and objects regularly and create different tableaux as inspiration. WHAT I S UNIQUE A BOUT YOUR WORKSPACE? I work from home which I love (more time with my son) and struggle with (it can be hard to switch off). The of ce comfortably ts three, but I also work with contractors based here for shorter periods. Friends are always coming and going so it gets quite social. WHAT APPEALED TO YOU ABOUT THE SPACE? It is located on the city fringe in a semi-industrial area. It’s filled with light but without the distraction of a view. It can be closed off and segregated from the rest of the building – you can walk past and not realise the studio exists. WHAT ARE YOUR OFFICE ESSENTIALS? Good lighting and lots of places to sit because we move around a lot. It’s compact but I have managed to fit two Eero Saarinen ‘Tulip’ tables, a Warren Platner stool, Eames rocking chair, Arne Jacobsen three-legged chair, a gold ceramic Chinese barrel stool and ‘Aeron’ work chairs. We are working on storage! FAVOURITE PIECES YOU’VE PICKED UP ON YOUR TRAVELS? The odd piece of art, and I’m always lugging books back home. DESCRIBE A T YPICAL DAY? Getting my son off to school then doing a quick clean-up. I try to read emails in the morning and afternoon, then it’s delegating and completing tasks. I break for a quick lunch but rarely go out as it’s too disruptive. You have to be disciplined to work from home. When my son comes home we have a catchup and then I work until six or seven, cook dinner and do something fun with him. The majority of my work is interstate so I travel a bit. I try to nd time to do some exercise. No day is the same. A DREAM D ESK I TEM YOU WOULD BUY RIGHT NOW? A ‘Tahiti’ lamp by Ettore Sottsass or a glass vase from his Memphis period. pascalegomesmcnabb.com.au