More than 100 members of Canberra’s design community gathered at SKEEHAN Studio’s concept space in May to view the new Hoshi Butter armchair.

The design studio launched Hoshi Butter to mark the 10th anniversary of the Hoshi chair, a collaboration with Stylecraft that has become a staple in SKEEHAN Studio’s body of work.

Designer Tom Skeehan addresses the crowd at the event

A softer iteration

Bringing playfulness, refinement and comfort to the range, Hoshi Butter features the classic Hoshi frame with a softer, more ‘buttery’ cushion. With this unique character, the Hoshi Butter armchair offers depth and comfort, which allows for versatility across a range of applications.

A guest enjoys the comfort of Hoshi Butter

SKEEHAN Studio partnered with Kvadrat Maharam to select fabrics from their range to bring the Hoshi Butter to life.

The frame is constructed with a solid American ash, walnut or oak. The American ash option is available in a natural Japanese black stain or five colours: stone blue, grey, moss, terracotta or plum.

Alternatively, an outdoor version of Hoshi Butter features a frame that can be manufactured from powder-coated steel finished in black, manor red, deep ocean, paper bark or woodland grey.

Guests admire the collection

An evolution grounded in sophistication

Designed exclusively for Stylecraft Furniture, the Hoshi chair marked a significant moment in the partnership between SKEEHAN Studio and Stylecraft, forging a path for Tom Skeehan and his studio to commercially distribute furniture across Australia.

Over its 10-year journey, SKEEHAN Studio has grown the Hoshi collection to include a wide range of ottomans, side tables and a lounge, catering to a diverse array of interior and exterior spaces.

Initially, the Hoshi chair was designed and created with a strong material narrative in mind. Paring back to a minimalistic form expressed in the manufacturing process, the design intention was to allow honest material expression to drive the aesthetic.

Hoshi armchair

Allowing the chair to withstand the varying Australian climate, SKEEHAN Studio also developed Hoshi Outdoor alongside Hoshi Colour, which features brightly coloured frames.

Building on a legacy

The opportunities for versatility in the Hoshi collection have been fundamental to its acclaim, adoption and continued relevance. The latest addition of Hoshi Butter aims to fortify this lasting legacy.   

The event’s clever catering paid homage the Hoshi collection

Learn more about Hoshi Butter on the Stylecraft website here.

Photography by Davey Barber.

Related: Keep up to date with new collections on Australian Design Review.