Article: Natural Brutalism

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AS PART OF MELBOURNE DESIGN WEEK

Natural Brutalism is an exhibition where creativity and sustainability converge through the work of Capra Designs and Anna Sassi Studio.

Part of Melbourne Design Week 2025, the exhibition invites visitors to explore the tactile beauty of cork — a material that balances raw elegance with environmental responsibility.

Blending Capra Designs’ contemporary product design with Anna Sassi’s surface design, the show explores how bold geometry and artful texture can reimagine interior spaces.

Presented as part of Melbourne Design Week 2025
Curated by the NGV and supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria.

Facade

Stool | Side Table

Material: Natural cork

Design Inspiration: Adapted from Anna Sassi’s Facade textile design.

Inspired by the afternoon light falling on architectural forms. It's beauty is in the simplicity of repetition.

Colonna

Lamp

Material: Natural cork

Design Inspiration: Adapted from Anna Sassi’s Colonna textile design.

A grand geometric design inspired by the Colonne di San Lorenzo a grand colonnade consisting of 16 tall Corinthian columns, the most famous Roman ruins in Milan.

Pablo

Wall Tiles

Material: Smoked cork
(pictured natural cork)

Design Inspiration: Adapted from Anna Sassi’s Pablo textile design.

Developed from a series of studies of line, shape and balance. Drawing and developing compositions intuitively, allowing the pencil to move across the page, following the movement of the body.

Scala

Breeze Blocks

Material: Natural cork

Design Inspiration: Adapted from Anna Sassi’s Scala textile design.

An elegant stepped geometric motif inspired by 1940's architecture.

Cinzia

Sconce

Material: Natural cork

Design Inspiration: Adapted from Anna Sassi’s Cinzia textile design.

A cheeky twist on a classic stripe. The right balance of proportions and style are paramount to creating an attractive stripe. Cinzia boasts good looks and a lot of personality.

From Pattern to Form

Meet the Designers

In this collaboration, Capra Designs and Anna Sassi Studio have translated surface designs into sculptural cork objects.

Anna Sassi

Anna Sassi Design is an Australian textile studio based in East Gippsland, Victoria. Her distinctive aesthetic is characterised by bold geometric compositions with an emphasis on colour. Balancing sophistication with thoughtful design, Sassi’s collections are produced locally on demand for residential and commercial interiors worldwide. When not designing her fabric collections, Sassi works with artists and businesses to create original print designs for use across anything from fashion, homewares and branding. Offering a bespoke design service from initial concept through to application, she is passionate about helping others bring their pattern dreams to life.

Bianca Lambert

Bianca Lambert is the designer behind Capra Designs, driven by a love for craftsmanship and the beauty of well-made objects. What began with a passion for indoor plant pots has grown into an exploration of sustainable materials—most notably Portuguese cork, a renewable, richly textured material that perfectly balances nature and modern design.
With an eye for bold forms and thoughtful details, Bianca designs with both instinct and precision, creating pieces that are as functional as they are beautiful. At Capra Designs, she is dedicated to crafting objects that feel timeless—designed in the Mornington Peninsula, Australia, to bring joy, creativity, and purpose to everyday spaces.

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Natural Brutalism

AS PART OF MELBOURNE DESIGN WEEK Natural Brutalism is an exhibition where creativity and sustainability converge through the work of Capra Designs and Anna Sassi Studio. Part of Melbourne Design We...

Natural Brutalism

CORK HOMEWARES

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