About

British-born Melanie Hall has lived in 9 countries to date, spanning almost 40 years overseas. She has more than 25 years experience working in design – interiors, architecture, furniture & rugs, and previously, in fashion. Over the years, Melanie has worked as Concept Designer, Creative Director and Interior Designer on several large scale projects including hotels & resorts, as well as restaurants & bars, offices & homes. At times she worked independently, and other times, was collaborating with both world-class and local architects in various countries.

Design Ethos

Melanie’s design ethos is that she, “Respects the past, welcomes the futures and likes to have fun in the process!”. This developed from her love of great modernist works of the past, combined with her passion for innovation of the future, all fuelled with a sense of humour – a signature style which Melanie refers to as “FUNk’d-up modernism”.

As such, elements of Nostalgia (great modernism works of the past, some 60’s pop etc), Futurism (innovation, gadgets, high-tech stuff) and Fun (often quirky, humourous touches) are omnipresent throughout Hall’s projects & designs.

Melanie says, “I have a keen eye for design, instilled in me by my architect father as an acclaimed 1950’s/60’s modernist architect. This, combined with my creative experience in the world of international fashion, together with extensive travel, has fuelled my passion for design over the years”.

Alan Chambers (1922 - 1997) – Melanie’s father

Melanie credits her father, acclaimed 1950’s/60’s architect Alan Chambers, for instilling in her a love of design, particularly from the modernist era. Starting his career in Lancashire in the 1950’s, Chambers qualified as an elected Associate in November 1953 and was was awarded a Fellowship of RIBA in October 1960.

Chambers worked extensively overseas between 1952 and 1985, creating groundbreaking “tropical modernist” architecture, with Melanie, her three brothers and mother in tow.

He owned and co-owned a number of companies, and designed a range of homes, office blocks, commercial properties and even airports, across the UK, Nigeria, St Lucia and the British Virgin Islands. All of his buildings were largely influenced by modernist design, with one of his first houses – Domus, built in Burnley, Lancashire in 1958 – being awarded a Grade II listing in 2012. The home remains largely intact both in architecture and interior, and subsequently has been heralded as an example of great modernist design of that era, with influences from the United States and Scandinavian modernist design.