Prak Sritharan is filling the shelves of Precinct 35 with beautifully crafted objects.
Prak Sritharan Wellington store shares space with the Milk Crate café, allowing coffee drinkers to wander in and browse wares from near and far: objects by Japanese design houses Koizumi Studio, Saito Wood, Lemnos and Hasami Porcelain sit alongside New Zealand’s Goldsworthy Studio and Nodi Handmade.
“Japanese designers usually begin with traditions, family-owned businesses and brands with stories that really resonate with me,” Sritharan says.
The store is arranged around a poured-concrete table, with plywood panelling adding warmth. Industrial features – concrete beams, a steel-lined ceiling, and earthquake bracing – are left exposed.
Sritharan hopes the store is a natural fit for its city. “We have such a strong culture and appreciation of design in Wellington, and I wanted to reflect that in a retail space for well-designed goods,” he says.
“In a way it’s almost trying to resemble what Wellington does so well in restaurants and cafes, applying the same level of integrity and focus.”
Photography by: Russell Kleyn
