Kathleen Korda’s Artwork Elevates Luxury Rail Travel
Durrmu (KK) in ‘Terra’ by Kathleen Korda has been used to upholster seating on Journey Beyond’s Gold Class carriages. Photo: Nicole England.
Kathleen Korda’s Durrmu (KK) design, part of our Durrmu Collection, plays a key role in the interior design of the recently revitalised Journey Beyond luxury train carriages. Designed by global design studio Woods Bagot, the sumptuous interiors have prompted coveted international nominations for their inspired design – including by Deezeen, Restaurant and Bar Design and Frame Awards. Here, we look at some of the thinking that informed Woods Bagot’s colour and material palette, which drew upon the landscapes the trains traverse.
Printed on our High Performance / Outdoor base cloth, Durrmu (KK) in ‘Terra’ by Kathleen Korda is well suited to Journey’s Beyond’s lavish interiors. Photo: Nicole England
Long associated with a sense of nostalgia and adventure, luxury rail travel has a rich history in Australia and beyond. Thanks to this redesign, Gold Service passengers can once again appreciate the thrill of winding their way through stunning scenery on iconic multi-day journeys in comfort, style and ambience.
The Ghan traverses from Adelaide to Darwin, while the Indian Pacific travels across the country from Sydney to Perth, and the Great Southern from Brisbane to Adelaide. This new fit-out of the Outback Explorer Lounges, Gold Cabins and Queen Adelaide Restaurants incorporates meticulously crafted and repurposed fittings, plush upholstery, bespoke carpeting and a discerning blend of historic art deco features and refined, contemporary touches.
Combined with custom carpets and other sumptuous fittings, the colour palette for the interior was inspired by the landscape passengers travel through. Photo: Nicole England.
The interior colour palette references Australian landscape, seen here in the West McDonnell Ranges, near Alice Springs.
Woods Bagot Principal, Rosina Di Maria, worked with her team to develop a rich colour palette that resonates with each journey’s surrounds. Hues of ghost gum and paperbark sit alongside the deep reds and familiar terracotta tones of Central Australia’s terrain.
“The Gold Service redesign respects and builds on the history of rail and of this land, with an interior design that evokes the landscapes guests are exploring,” says Di Maria. “The design response is deeply contextual to the history and topography of Australia, referencing the lands across which the train travels and the people who live on it,” project leader, Bonnie Hamilton, elaborates.
“The carriages convey the beauty and romance long associated with slow travel, with a design response that is deeply contextual to the history and topography of Australia. The Gold Premium carriages restore the glamour of transcontinental rail travel that captures a genuine sense of place.”
Willie Weston’s Durrmu Collection, featuring designs by Leanne Black, Kathleen Korda and Annunciata Nunuk Wilson on pieces from the Precinct Collection by Zenith. Photo: Martina Gemmola.
The Ghan travels from Adelaide to Darwin, with interiors echoing the colours found in the surrounding landscape. Photo: Courtesy Journey Beyond.
Kathleen Korda’s design, Durrmu (KK) in our ‘Terra’ colour way, brings First Nations culture into the design of the carriages. Part of our Durrmu Collection, Kathleen’s artwork captures traditional body painting styles used in ceremonial dance and intricate dot patterns, known as durrmu.
Printed on our High Performance / Outdoor fabric, with its exceptional technical specifications and soft handle, the specified fabric contributes a sophisticated edge and excellent durability, with an innovative Ecoelite Teflon finish (PFAS free) that forms a barrier around each fibre, providing superior protection from UV and stains, and more.
“In selecting Kathleen’s design, Woods Bagot has delivered a project that offers a genuine sense of place. Her Durrmu design references enduring cultural practices and Kathleen’s connection to her Country, contributing to this project a wonderful richness and depth. It is a thrill to know that passengers from around the world will appreciate Kathleen's work in the coming years,” says Willie Weston co-founder, Jessica Booth.
Durrmu (KK)
by Kathleen Korda
Kathleen’s design for our Durrmu Collection represents traditional body painting designs applied to male and female faces and torsos for ceremonial dance. The dots are referred to as durrmu - which also means painting.
Learn more about Kathleen here.
Durrmu (KK) in ‘Terra’ is also available in the earthy tones of 'Bush Banana', 'Merrepen', 'Berry', ‘Pippi' and 'Obsidian' across our collection of commercial and residential base cloths.
The Durrmu Collection was developed in partnership with Durrmu Arts, a First Nations owned art centre in Peppimenarti, 300 kilometres southwest of Darwin. The centre is renowned for exquisite pandanus and merrepen (sand-palm) weavings, and for intricate paintings based upon traditional weaving and durrmu that are celebrated in this project.
“In addition to seeing an artwork by a First Nations artist celebrated in this design, we are thrilled that our hard-working commercial upholstery base cloths are being incorporated into high-traffic tourism and hospitality spaces,” Jess concludes.
Willie Weston’s Durrmu Collection, featuring designs by Leanne Black, Kathleen Korda and Annunciata Nunuk Wilson on pieces from the Precinct Collection by Zenith. Photo: Martina Gemmola.