Brahman Perera Transforms LANDMARK by Lexus at the 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival
Brahman Perera incorporated textiles from the Kvadrat Maharam collection as a key feature of the interior concept and design for the 2024 LANDMARK by Lexus, a striking contemporary pavilion within the exclusive Birdcage enclosure at the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Perera, best known as the creative visionary behind top restaurants such as Entrecôte, Gigi’s and Hopper Joint, highlighted innovation, sustainability and theatricality when reimagining the luxurious trackside marquee originally designed by Koichi Takada Architects. The result was an immersive, stylish sanctuary above Flemington Racecourse that proved the most coveted place to be throughout the week-long carnival.
The marquee – redesigned each season by a different design creative – this year took the theme Future Catalyst 35, highlighting the luxury automotive brand’s 35 years in business. Perera chose to adopt an arresting palette of billowing fabrics, wall panels and reupholstered furnishings using Kvadrat Maharam textiles across the pavilion’s three levels.
The ground floor featured an installation of a new Lexus Future Zero-emission Catalyst (LF-ZC) vehicle, parked amid native botanicals surrounded by Kvadrat Maharam drapery. Also on the ground level, the reservation-only dining room was hung with textures of sleek white fabric offset by coloured LED lights. The middle floor opened to the expansive trackside viewing deck, lifted with yellow-toned fabrics, while the top floor lounge featured a six-metre Cicchetti bar and comfortable seating to retreat from the bustling crowds.
Textiles used included Noon by Patricia Urquiola for Kvadrat – a transparent, natural yarn with subtle vertical stripes that changes appearance in contrasting light conditions throughout the day – hung in muted pale green tones (902 and 492).
Sahco Ash – a sheer, textured fabric with a matt, dusty appearance inspired by powdery clay – was used in shades of chalk and sky blue (100 and 720), while Sahco Asami, a sensuously silky fabric inspired by fashion designer Issey Miyake, appeared in crisp white (101), featuring a woven three-dimensional pleat design offering a shadowy play of light and shade.
The vivid, sculptural Kvadrat Cosmix was draped through the dining room in white (001), its voluminous, vibrant character achieved via a double piece-dying process adding depth to its intricate blend of polyester, cotton and metal yarns. Finally Kvadrat Harald 3, a closely-woven, short-pile velour designed by Fanny Aronsen, appeared in burnt orange (543), part of a new colour palette conceived by Raf Simons.
“Theatre and set design were key forms of inspiration for this year's event, with the drama and transformative qualities of fabric drapery, partitioning and curtains,” said Perera. “My collaboration with Lexus [brings] to life an overall creative vision, [establishing] a platform that guides other contributors as well as designing and configuring the space in a way that is reflective of Lexus refinement, my practice and the Melbourne Cup Carnival.”
Paintings by Archibald finalist Zoe Young from Sophie Gannon Gallery were installed throughout the marquee (and were even available to purchase to guests flush from a successful punt). “The whole point was to make this space feel like it had some permanence and some integrity,” Perera told The Age. “In that sense, to have real art by an Archibald finalist, that’s something that elevates it.”
The marquee exemplarised the Japanese concept of omotenashi hospitality, where a guest’s every need is anticipated in advance. Perera says that Birdcage celebrations were bolder and bigger than ever this year, taken to even more luxe and artistic heights. “It comes with the [spring] weather as well – people want to look towards the end of the year,” he said. “It’s a small moment, it’s only for a week, but hopefully, it sets the tone for things to come.”
This year’s LANDMARK by Lexus also featured spectacular flowers from September Studio’s Bryce Heyworth and a menu by Atlas chef Charlie Carrington and Tarts Anon founder Gareth Witton. VIP guests included Melissa Leong, Nicky Hilton, Kate Waterhouse, Emma Freedman, John Eales and Anthony Minichiello.
“Collaborating with Kvadrat Maharam on the final fabric selections really brought the whole project together,” said Perera. “The textiles offered such elegant depth, movement and texture to the space and proved the perfect backdrop for all the beautiful outfits which packed the pavilion.”
Discover Noon by Patricia Urquiola here
Discover Cosmix by Kvadrat here
Discover Harald 3 by Fanny Aronsen & Raf Simons here
Photography by Tom Blachford