Time for Timeless Design

Khai Liew

August 22, 2023

In planning for the original Southern Ocean Lodge in the early 2000s, James and Hayley Baillie commissioned Adelaide-based design master Khai Liew to create bespoke furniture and lighting pieces for the lodge.

Adelaide-based Khai Liew embodied a multi-disciplinary design practice, encompassing a studio, workshop, and collaborations with artisans. With expertise in historical Australian decorative arts, Liew’s designs blend heritage and contemporary aesthetics, reflecting time, place, and culture. Recognised with awards like the SA Arts Award and Design Icon, his creations grace global museums and national collections, leaving an indelible mark on Australian design.

When I saw the news that the fire was raging towards the lodge, my heart sank. But to have the opportunity to come back together with Max Pritchard the architect, James and Hayley and ourselves was fantastic.

Khai Liew, Designer

Khai’s design response to the lodge’s wild outlook over the Southern Ocean and Kangaroo Island coast was to create the warm and inviting circular lounges in the Great Room, the sculptural five-and-a-half-metre long solid oak bar table – the site for many drinks and conversations shared over the years – as well as the lounge lamps and hanging pendants in the restaurant. The teak ‘Jeannie’ bench seat at the entrance to lodge was also Khai’s design.

In 2023, Khai was back designing pieces for the new-look lodge, bringing his cultivated design language to produce useful, meaningful and delightful work that speaks of its time, place and people. Sadly later that year, Khai passed away after a long illness. Khai remains undoubtedly one of Australia’s most influential and visionary designers and he leaves an exceptional legacy.

View the video below where Khai spoke on his journey, his practice, and the inspiration behind his designs for Southern Ocean Lodge.