Le Corbusier famously said that human beings need “space and light and order… as much as they need bread or a place to sleep.” He failed to add that people also need personality in their living spaces. Details, quirks, even imperfections — these are the qualities that make a house a home. Science bears this out: researchers in environmental psychology have frequently found that visual monotony — think blank walls and flat surfaces — provokes anxiety. We need visual interest to feel at home.
Crafting intricate spaces, ones that brim with detail and vitality, is the specialty of the architectural hardware experts at Bankston, who regularly collaborate with leading minds in architecture and design to redefine the category. And the Australian brand’s latest partnership does exactly this.
Celebrated interior designer Yasmine Ghoniem, the director of the Sydney-based firm YSG, is known for her uncanny ability to maintain cohesion in spaces that are packed with adventurous decorative detail. Ghoniem’s work shows that, with the right designer, you can have space and light and order — and so much more.
Bankston’s recent collaboration with YSG showcases what both firms do best. A series of sculptural architectural hardware pieces crafted from timber and playfully titled The Streaks, these might be the coolest door handles ever made.
“We like to think of handles (for doors, drawers and cupboards) like the eyes of a face,” explains Ghoniem. “They literally hold the key to what’s inside or beyond and should be celebrated.”
Each piece features a distinctive blend of contrasting timber stripes. This simple banded design concept puts the focus on the materials, which are of a superb quality, their appearance marked by richness and depth. “Tonal timber pairings offer varying levels of contrast,” explains Bankston, “from the subtle stripes of the Light Band (American White Ash with Australian Blackbutt), to the more distinctive Dark Band pairing (American Walnut with Australian Red Cedar), or for bolder designs, the striking Colour Band combination (New Zealand Purpleheart and African Padauk).”
In addition to the timber color pairings, The Streaks also includes a bronze option. These versions are “hand sand cast, the process leaving the pieces with distinctive pitting and pour marks. The Patinated Bronze finish instantly grants it an aged hue, with touch points continuing to alchemize over time to rich golden glows.”
The name, The Streaks, refers to the striped pattern of the hardware. But for the designers, this name carries other meanings — some mischievous. The word “streak,” Bankston and YSG point out, has four separate meanings: “1. A line or mark of a different substance or colour from its background; 2. To move very fast in a specified direction; 3. A specific characteristic in someone’s personality or moment in time; 4. To run naked through a public area seeking attention.” These door handles, then, convey not just movement, but nudity — perhaps a nod to the way the finishes highlight, rather than cover up, the color of the raw materials.
In addition to the variety of finishes, The Streaks fixtures also come in a number of different sizes and shapes. These are given playful names. The Straight Streaker and Kooky Streaker are both flat, banded door handles, with the “kooky” version having an unconventional length and angle on the door. The Sensible Streaker and Closet Streaker don’t turn; they fasten directly onto drawers, closets or pantries.
There is also the Wide Guy and Slim Jim pull handles (my favorites) which are perfectly designed for feature doors. And then the smaller Lunacy and, Flash, which are intended for sliding doors, and the Narcissist, which can be found on cabinets or closets. The Narcissist, with a starlike shape, stands apart from the collection. It is available exclusively in Patinated Bronze.
“There’s a whimsical strength to this collection and an unpredictable timelessness to the designs that are distinctive, a little cheeky, energetic and striking” explains Steve Bradley, Bankston Co-CEO.
Purchasing these hardware items and incorporating them into your project could not be easier, thanks to the Bankston Trade Portal. Available to customers in the Northern Hemisphere, the portal allows customers to buy hardware directly from the supplier with no intermediary. In addition, it includes useful planning features for those working on more complex projects.
“This personalized hardware planning experience combines project management functionality with the convenience of direct purchasing,” explains Bankston in a statement. “Architects and design professionals can also access support from Bankston’s project team to build schedules that reflect their unique vision – directly within the platform.” Key features include real-time stock availability and exclusive trade pricing.
Like Ghoniem’s best designs, the fixtures that comprise The Streaks are subtle yet brimming with life, bringing pattern where one least expects it. In a world where people complain about the ubiquity of monotonous design, The Streaks provides an antidote.
For designers looking to spice up their interiors, explore how Bankston and YSG’s stunning hardware collection can support your vision by clicking here.
