The quiet ambition of Auckland’s newest contemporary gallery Good Form by Emma & Dan Eagle

Tucked into the layered brickwork of 86 Newton Road, Auckland’s design scene has found a place to call home. Good Form, the contemporary gallery founded by design duo Emma and Dan Eagle, has reopened in a larger space on the city fringe—marking a new chapter not just for the gallery, but for the broader cultural fabric of Tāmaki Makaurau.

The new gallery has been carefully renovated over the first half of 2025, with the Eagles preserving the soul of the original structure while infusing it with a modern sensibility. With architectural photography by Simon Devitt now capturing the space in its final form, Good Form feels more like a living design statement than a traditional gallery—more an evolving celebration of form, function, and enduring beauty.

Emma & Dan Eagle, Founders of Good Form

At its core, Good Form is a destination: a gallery-store hybrid showcasing an ever-changing collection of rare mid-century design alongside bold contemporary work from both Aotearoa and abroad. From Italian lighting icons to emerging New Zealand furniture makers, the curation reflects the Eagles’ signature blend of international sophistication and local pride. “We look to the future while holding a deep respect for the past,” they explain—a philosophy that underpins everything from their vintage collection to their contemporary commissions.

The inaugural exhibition brings together a dynamic roster of artists and designers, with early glimpses promising a thoughtful dialogue between eras, aesthetics, and ideologies. While details remain under wraps, visitors can expect pieces that engage with the gallery’s ethos: authentic design, crafted with care, and built to last.

Good Form’s new space on 86 Newtown Road

For Emma and Dan—who also helm the well-regarded vintage design store Mr. Bigglesworthy—Good Form is a deeply personal project. With Emma’s background in fine arts and communication and Dan’s expertise in curation and decorative arts, the gallery reflects their shared vision: design as a living, breathing form of cultural storytelling. More than a gallery, Good Form is an opening gesture—a space that invites Aucklander’s to slow down, look closer, and consider the shape of things to come.

Vintage lounge pieces sit comfortably together with the 2065 Pendant Lamp from Astep and the Vienna Console from OMK

How would you describe Good  Form’s core philosophy and curatorial focus in your own words?

We’ve always believed design objects need to be presented in the right setting to be properly appreciated. Over the years we’ve seen lot of amazing vintage designs being destroyed or not appreciated because people didn’t understand their value or they were simply in the wrong context. Good Form helps us communicate and share a story about the things we value.

More recently we’ve added new products to the gallery based on the foundation of our knowledge and experience in vintage designer furniture. We aim to celebrate enduring design and our curatorial focus is on creating a strong connection to a few brands where we share similar values.

Could you explain how Good  Form and Mr Bigglesworthy fit together under your creative direction?

Good Form encompasses a curated selection of brands which we admire as well as our own brand Mr. Bigglesworthy which gives the new pieces a historical context. We’ve always wanted to have a contemporary outlook on design and bringing on new brands was a natural way forward with a narrative about good design and quality craftsmanship being timeless. 

We’ve taken our time to build Good Form to a point where it could be a gallery which can house all our brands including Mr. Bigglesworthy. We’re still working on clarifying this to our long time customers but it has been in development for a few years. Most recently Good Form has now become the name on our gallery door and we see it being the future of a gallery space where diverse events can be held here for our own projects or for others.

What kind of customer experience do you envision?

It’s quite a personal experience buying with us, especially for Auckland based customers. We collaborate with our clients closely and offer a custom design solution if needed. With new products arriving in our store every week from our vintage range we have a constant evolution of the presentation of the gallery space. 

Our staff are experienced with assisting on all kinds of enquiries from commercial spaces to apartment living. A lot of customers have quite long standing relationship with us and return to buy a special piece of collectable design furniture or to adapt their life and taste to new situations.  

Layers of light, texture and architectural detail which have been revealed with the restoration of the building.

Will you be hosting exhibition openings, talks, or workshops in this space?

Absolutely ! We do have a small team but having a much larger space certainly offers us an opportunity to engage with audience in new ways. We’re already planning an event called Makers Market in October for small scale production designers to showcase and sell their work over a weekend in a gallery environment. We have had been fortunate enough to be supported by the Auckland design community and hopefully this gives us the chance to help others. 

Bedroom Designs from Ercol together with Reclining Figure Rug from Faye Toogood for CC-Tapis and artwork by Lottie Consalvo from Foenander Galleries.

Visit Good Form at 86 Newton Road, Auckland

Credits

Intro by Rosa O'Reilly
Interview by Zeenat Wilkinson
Photography Simon Devitt for Good Form