Tell us a little about yourself using a Haiku.
We started in love,
From the city to the hand
Never ending love
Tell us a little about the origins of Architact Collective.
The Architact Collective was founded in 2013 by Linda Bennett and Dillon Bailey. Linda is an architect, designer and writer, Dillon has spent many years on the construction site. The Architact Collective is the ongoing collaboration between an architect and builder who live together, work together and love life together.
It all started with a hand-casted silver and concrete ring which is now entitled the ‘original concrete house ring.‘ This ring was instigated by a personal journey through themes of scale, intimacy, meaning, memory and experience.
The ring reduces the overwhelming scale of architecture into something more tangible and accessible. The symbol of home allows its complexity to be captured in a simple and iconic image.
The ring is intimate, directly connecting to our body through the hand, a part of our body that constantly exchanges and engages with our surroundings.
The ring calls into question the meaning of ownership, not as a commodity, but rather, as personal authorship.
Calling upon our memory of associative place, each of us have unique memories and interpretations of “home,” which we are enabled to embody into the ring through the process of making.
Experience naturally opens the narrative of our lives. The ring evolves over its lifespan, taking on its’ own story, the ring will fade, crack and chip as it earns a history of use and misuse through your own journey in life.
Today, we have many more rings, bracelets, necklaces and homewares – each have a meaningful connection back to these origins.
Describe your creative process.
Each product is unique; the inherent nature of the material and processes allows infinite colour and texture possibilities. With no two products identical, each product takes on a unique personality. Its unique personality is represented by tiny cracks, imperfections and scratches that continue to evolve over the lifetime of the product. We give each product our full attention to create something truly special.
Our products re-envisage common construction materials including stone, concrete, brick and timber and repurpose their processes, aesthetics, and functionality to create truly unique and one of a kind jewellery. Each ring comes with a rich history and lifespan. Corresponding to a unique build number, the materials are obtained and recycled from construction sites across Melbourne.
Our creative process usually starts with a conversation or an image – from this moment until realisation we play and experiment. We love to work with our hands and create products that provide a deep connection to the things that keep us alive and happy. We believe in old school processes and the honesty of DIY; each product is made via three methods:
1. DIY Concrete Kits: Here we transfer the enjoyable process of building and allow an appreciation for the items and systems that create our products. The DIY process makes transparent the technology and construction behind your product, merging the often disparate roles of maker and owner. The DIY Concrete Kit empowers you through the process of making to embed diverse and unique narratives. By connecting a narrative to your product it takes on a life beyond it’s original conception. Our DIY Concrete Kits hope to transfer the fun, enjoyable and honest process of DIY.
2. Hand-Crafted Jewellery made by the Architact Collective: Here we use the same DIY process (refined over years of experimentation) but each product is lovingly hand-crafted by Linda Bennett. Linda ensures each product is as individual as its owner.
3. Hand-Crafted Collaborations: We constantly reach out to to create unique hand-crafted and limited edition jewellery developed through unique collaborations with fellow artisans, architects, engineers and entrepreneurs. Here we bring together disparate industries and skill-sets to design and build amazing products.
What inspires you the most?
97% of our city is made of concrete, brick and timber. The city moves us, protects us and houses us. The Architact Collective is inspired by architecture and motivated by design as the primary catalyst for bringing together the community.
Our work is derived from the construction industry and we reinterpret the notion of the city as wearable jewellery or homewares. Every detail and process of our work serves as constant reminder of the city that surrounds us.
Name some of your most favourite local artists and designers.
My three favourite local artists and designers are some beautiful, talented and passionate people I am currently collaborating with; Kaitlin Beckett of a curious bestiary, Sarra Twycross-Smith of sarratzijan.com and Lachlan Marshall of Salad Jewellery.
What are your ultimate dreams for Architact Collective?
The Architact Collective is a means for us to reach out and connect with people through design. It is a passionate project, exploring productive and meaningful experiences and companionships – creating individual and shared journeys through life.
My ultimate dream is to quite simply form as many genuine and individual connections with other amazing and inspiring people from around the globe as possible.
What will will we find from Architact Collective at our July Bend and Snap Market?
You can expect to see our DIY concrete ring kits, hand-casted concrete and brick rings, earrings, necklaces, brackets and coasters.
http://architactcollective.com/
Our winter market on Saturday 25th July to Sunday 26th July (see The Architact Collective on the Sunday from 12:00pm to 5:00pm) will be an entire weekend-long celebration of local art and design featuring a selection of curated stalls with a plethora of art work, jewellery, home wares, DIY kits, second hand stalls and a few sweets and treats by Kylie’s Sweets and Treats (read: the most divine ginger bread goodies because consuming ginger to keep pesky winter flus at bay, right?!).
The smallest stones throw from the major shopping precincts in the CBD, come visit us in our Little Lonsdale nook and peruse through a range of fabulous artisanal everything coupled with the unique opportunity to meet and chat with the maker of each of the covetable wares that tickle your fancy!
Plated Image, connoisseur of delicate paper craft, will also be hosting papercraft workshop throughout the weekend, providing the materials and guidance to create your own bouquet of delicate paper flowers. Spaces in the workshop are limited and bookings are essential, email platedimage@gmail.com to reserve your place.
Come down for our weekend-long celebration of local art and design on Saturday 25th July to Sunday 26th July (12:00pm to 5:00pm on each day), with a variety of stall holders on each day and enjoy an afternoon of sating your hunger for inspiration and discovery (and sate your literal hunger with all-day-breakfast/lunch/early dinner with the delish dishes dished up at the cafe!).
Limited stall spaces still available, apply here: https://bendandsnapmarket.wordpress.com/apply/
Bend and Snap Market @ 1000 £ Bend
Saturday 25th July to Sunday 26th July, 12:00pm to 5:00pm
361 Little Lonsdale Street Melbourne
Bend and Snap Market 