Sam Lennon's favourite things

Furniture designer Sam Lennon sits in one of his favourite things - his BFK chair which he purchased on a recent trip to South America. Photo / Babiche Martens

Sam Lennon is the man behind The Lennon Project, a new furniture design company with a focus on furniture, objects and other design-related projects. His background is in architecture (he previously worked for architecture firm Fearon Hay), and he has a passion for design and building. Lennon's creations are modern and slick, with a sense of humour - like the "Ficket Pence" stools and bench seats made from recycled picket fence palings, or the "Cocaine Cube" and "Cocaine and Coffee Table", both clad in bevelled-edged mirrors. Lennon tells us about his favourite things, past and present - and how they inform his work.

10 FAVOURITE THINGS

1. Brutalism
An architectural style/movement which I believe originated in Brazil. At its heart is a stripped back raw aesthetic, probably most recognised by an extreme use of rough cast "in situ" concrete. While in Brazil recently, I had the chance to check out many buildings designed by some of my favorite architects, including Paulo Mendes da Rocha, Lina Bo Bardi and Oscar Niemeyer.

2. Mid-century architecture and design
Definitely my favourite architecture period. I love not only the architecture and furniture design of this period but also the presentation techniques - Richard Neutra and Ray and Charles Eames being an ongoing influence.

3. Mexican art
A lot of Mexican art has a close affiliation with death and/or the celebration of death. I brought my girlfriend a silver jewellery box with skull engravings on it from a little craft shop in Sayulita, Mexico.

4. Jim Phillips
One of my favourite graphic designers, who was responsible for some of the best skateboard graphics throughout the 1980s. It's probably a guy thing but I love all the guts, brains and vivid colours.

5. D.L. & Co.
A company that makes a range of candles - I recently bought a candle in the shape of a hand called "Vena Amoris". There is something creepy but beautiful about these candles. There is also a neo-classical styled lady's head which cries tears of wax when lit.

6. Simon James Design
A showroom and stockist selling the best New Zealand and international furniture and lighting.

7. Ralph Dibble carvings
My great grandfather was a European who did intricate Maori carvings. These are family heirlooms which have been passed down through the family and it's just awesome to think they have been carefully handcrafted by someone directly related to you.

8. One
A new clothing, art and object-focused shop at 504 K Rd in Auckland. The store stocks one-off pieces by a number of artists and designers, and is curated to have an ever-changing theme.

9. Laser cutters and CNC machines
These machines are amazing and so accurate. A lot of the furniture I design, like this "Inverted Cube", is aided by the use of a computer or CAD programs. This, combined with the materials I use, relies on these machines to make the designs a reality.

10. BKF chair
Better known as the "Butterfly Chair", the BKF chair was designed by Argentinian architect Jorge Ferrari Hardoy - such a clever, simple design. I got my hands on a couple of them recently while in Buenos Aires.