Project Overview

A force of nature, The Streaks is a range of sculpted architectural hardware designed by the Sydney-based interior design and architectural studio, YSG, in partnership with Bankston. Demonstrating both the beauty, dexterity and strength of FSC-certified timber, the spirited ensemble of door levers, pulls and joinery pieces featuring stripes in contrasting tones and playful experimentations in scale is superbly crafted from species that span the globe. Inspired by natural ribbons of grain, the banded motif makes for bold entry statements to every room. Amongst all, aesthetics, ergonomics, and originality are equally considered, with a niche selection cast in bronze.

Organisation

Bankston

Team

Emily Bradley
Steve Bradley
Yasmine Ghoniem

Project Brief

Bankston collaborates with leading architecture studios and designers to create collections unique to the market, that redefine hardware as not just functional, but integral to the aesthetic and emotional experience of a space. This YSG collaboration marks our fourth. We knew that working with the studio would result not only in highly original designs, but also a fresh approach to material selections. YSG’s focus upon texture and pattern, and their preference for working with timber as the primary medium really pushed us out of our comfort zone, fundamentally shifting the way we think about materiality.

Our initial approach was really open as we wanted to see what they’d come up with without any boundaries. After preliminary designs were finalised, we resolved and tested the more intricate details associated with architectural hardware design, like internal spring mechanisms, locking devices and concealed attachment point to name a few. Ensuring ongoing availability and sustainability for the final selection of timber species in The Streaks collection was also a major consideration. It was critical that the timber was FSC-certified and sourced from forests that meet high environmental, social, and economic standards, reflecting our commitment to sustainable and responsible forestry management, which was important to YSG as well.

Project Innovation/Need

“Creatively we wanted the end user to experience a door handle in a different way, so how do we do that? We change scale and look at materiality. How does it feel under someone’s touch? And the way you physically open a door, via a handle, we wanted to play with that concept as well.” Yasmine Ghoniem, Director YSG

The Kooky Streaker is a testament to this experimentation. This attention seeking timber lever is named after its off-kilter, tilted design and elongated scale. Creatively, it shifts perceptions of a door’s purpose—designed to make people feel they were walking into something special when they draw down upon the lever. The suspenseful sensation can be likened to opening a vault (hence its 45-degree orientation). In its closed position it also provides a more interesting profile than a typical handle.

The Headliners of the collection include door pulls named after physical statures, including the Wide Guy, which is unlike anything on the market. Cheekily named after its tubby stature, you can literally feel the solid assurance of this solid timber door pull’s integrity in your hands. Its engaging chunky rectangular form features a profile that rises to an angled peak with a triangular cut-out subtly relieving mass at its base.

Design Challenge

The Streaks is our first collection with a primary focus upon timber hardware as opposed to cast metal, so we collaborated with bespoke timber crafters in Sydney. YSG’s preference for working with timber pushed us out of our comfort zone. As a brand rooted in the design and manipulation of metals, shifting to timber fundamentally challenged our design philosophy and the way we think about materiality.

As timber is a natural product, we needed to investigate if each species could not only be manipulated into the desired shapes, but withstand the test of time. It was critical that the timber was FSC-certified and sourced from forests that meet high environmental, social, and economic standards. Another key consideration was the high level of woodgrain pattern and tonal variation within each species as they needed to be relatively consistent. This led to a few selection changes before we confidently arrived at our six selected species. From the subtle stripes of the Light Band (American White Ash with Australian Blackbutt), to the distinctive Dark Band pairing (American Walnut with Australian Red Cedar), or for bolder designs, the striking Colour Band (New Zealand Purpleheart and African Padauk).

Our collaboration with YSG challenged us in many ways, and our commitment to reimagining ratio and silhouette continues to influence our design. This collaboration didn’t just test what timber could do in this category, but it continued to evolve our sense of what hardware could look and feel like in the hand.

Sustainability

Our focus for Bankston is to create beautifully designed, consciously crafted architectural hardware that leaves a lasting impact. Every product is made with purpose, reflecting our commitment to responsible practices, from sustainable materials to meaningful community partnerships. Our latest collaboration with YSG reflects Bankston’s continued commitment to craftsmanship, innovation, and sustainable design. We are passionate about creativity and exceptional design - but not at the expense of improving our environmental and social impact.

Each timber piece is a testament to Australian-made artisanal craftsmanship. The Streaks is meticulously crafted from FSC-certified timber, ensuring that the timber has been sourced from forests that meet high environmental, social, and economic standards, reflecting our commitment to sustainable and responsible forestry management. These products adhere to the highest possible environmental standards, from the moment the timber is sourced from plantations to our manufacturing and packaging processes. We adhere to a set of standards within the timber industry for best practice in material sourcing and waste minimisation, and only partner with suppliers who share our values so you can trust our products.

We have been proactive in auditing and selecting a factory to manufacture our products, ensuring it meets high standards. The chosen factory for the Patinated Bronze products and components is accredited with ISO 9001 for quality management, ISO 14001 for environmental management systems, and ISO 45001 for occupational health and safety management. These certifications reflect our commitment to quality, environmental responsibility, and the well-being of workers.