Melbourne-based furniture upholstery designer Zenn Design has unveiled the Elba seating collection.

Designed and handcrafted in Caulfield South, the Elba collection conjures the essence of conscious design, subtle structure and refinement.

Elba has been developed as a natural progression from the Archie stool collection and introduces a trio of purposefully designed options: a stool, bar stool and a dining chair – a first for Zenn.

Understated in appearance, Elba balances minimal visual subtlety with materiality. Each option is accentuated by a double-frame detail and an inset upholstered seat. Developed for versatility, the collection offers full customisation in frame finish and fabric selection – encouraging both designers and clients to customise pieces to suit their desired design needs.

The Elba collection is designed with the intention of adapting seamlessly to any space – Elba is available in six considered variations of height and profiles, with or without the backrest.

The collaboration behind the collection

Zenn’s creative director and founder Hannah Goldberg collaborated with art director and stylist Cristina Guerrero-Fernandez to consider fabric and frame combinations – thoughtful pairings that mirror the collection’s subtlety and are available for immediate specification.

Collaboration with Space-man Studio design director Lachlan Mackay – a member of Australian Design Review’s 30UNDER30 cohort for 2024/2025 – was at the core of Elba’s development.

“I began sketching and refining a form that pushed Zenn Design’s signature aesthetic in a fresh direction while still achieving a look that feels right and on-brand,” says Mackay.

“Multiple prototyping rounds assured that we were able to have all six variations aligned and feeling cohesive as a collection.”

“Lachlan really helped us merge all our design ideas into one beautiful form,” shares Goldberg.

“We wanted to explore structure in a new way to create something elegant but different, something that hadn’t been done before.”

Meticulous details and refined design

Every curve, weld and join in the Elba range displays a conscious preoccupation with thoughtful, meticulous craftsmanship  – reflecting Zenn’s ongoing commitment to producing quality furniture pieces, right here in Melbourne. The result is a collection that is intentional, effortless and offers a quiet, refined statement in any space.

“The Elba is so special to me as it’s our first full seating collection to include a dining chair, something we’d been asked about for a long time and spent over 18 months refining to get just right,” says Hannah.

The Elba Collection is available to view by appointment at the Zenn Melbourne Showroom or by Zenn’s Sydney Design Consultant via appointment here.

Images by Sean Fennessy.

Related: Read about the Series 7 chair by Fritz Hansen, a quiet classic, here.