Castle Workshop
1312 Nicholls Rivulet Road, Nicholls Rivulet
James’ gallery (select any thumbnail to view full size image and scroll gallery)
Castle Workshop is a furniture-making workshop and exhibition space in Nicholls Rivulet. The building was designed and hand-built by James Vaughan between 2010 and 2020, and he now runs furniture making classes for adults in the space and makes furniture on commission.
James’ working life started as an art teacher in Sydney, and in his mid 20’s he moved to Hobart, inspired by bushwalking and cycling holidays around the state, by the artistic community and the beautiful local timbers he had started using in furniture items.
His furniture practice very much mirrors his working life. Coming from a visual arts background, his design concerns are primarily sculptural. He draws tremendous inspiration from architectural form and the wide range of materials and techniques he has spent so many years mastering.
His furniture falls into one of two ‘camps’. The first are pragmatic, calm designs that aim to take advantage of beautiful Tasmanian timbers. The second area involves more creative pieces, typically using a combination of materials and often featuring an intentional ambiguity. Think furniture facades you can play with, or drawer fronts that become invisible when they are closed.
Visitors to Castle Workshop will appreciate the highly crafted elements of the building including the handmade steel trusses, timber and steel arched windows, French doors, cabinetry and stunning mezzanine.
On display will be a number of dining tables and cabinets made in recent years, as well as examples of the items that can be made in the furniture making classes – wooden stools, breadboards and veneered timber boxes.
The 20 acre property has ample parking and the Nicholls Rivulet runs through the property. It is a scenic place to stop and appreciate the Nicholls Rivulet valley and see inside this uniquely striking building and making space.
Contact
0480 268 978
> email James
> visit James’ website
Handmade in Cygnet 