As Eco Outdoor’s founding CEO and product innovator, Ben Kerr is an inquisitive entrepreneur and innovator with a love for modern history and architecture, and a passion for discovering and experimenting with natural materials to create ground-breaking products. In his early days, Ben attended the London School of Economics before trying his hand as a political researcher for television. Upon realizing that political research was not his calling, Ben decided to work alongside his landscaper brother, and it was then that he discovered a need within the market for outdoor and interior surfaces. With this in mind, Ben went on to partner with Ross and Rick Eckersley, combining their landscape and garden design expertise to establish the Eco Outdoor brand in 2001. Today, Ben Kerr leads Eco Outdoor in the brand’s mission to craft and curate unique and innately dynamic natural stone and architectural surfaces that celebrate the textures and imperfections of nature. See how Ben turns textures from the earth into furniture in today’s Maker Monday.
From humble beginnings selling pebbles off a truck in Melbourne to collaborating with architects worldwide, Eco Outdoor transforms raw stone and timber into luminous outdoor experiences that celebrate nature’s textures and empower creative vision.
Andrew Joseph: Can you describe a project that you’re particularly proud of?
Ben Kerr: Backdune House is one of my favorite projects because it feels like a true extension of the land it sits on. There’s a certain peace here that’s hard to explain — the way the home curves with the headland, how the stone connects us to the geology of the Northern Beaches, and how the structure opens itself to the sky. Peter Stutchbury’s design moved away from the usual idea of a “house” with no square boxes or closed-off spaces. Instead, the home invites you to engage. The grand timber doors, the sweeping roofline, the way the spaces flow, it all creates this quiet encouragement to slow down, to look outward, and to be present.
AJ: How do you stay creative and inspired?
BK: Working with natural materials keeps me creative and inspired — playing with the texture, tone, and variation that stone brings. There’s a kind of honesty in that. We’re not chasing perfection; we’re celebrating imperfection. Everything we do is rooted in that idea — embracing the raw, the real, and letting the material guide the process rather than trying to fight against it. That’s where the creativity lives for me.
Rooted in Jørn Utzon’s original family home design, these solid teak stools reinterpret his architectural language with quiet simplicity, defined profiles, and versatile forms that work as seating or a compact side table.
AJ: Can you tell us about a specific moment in your career that made you feel accomplished?
BK: Turning 25 is a favorite moment because it allows you to reflect. Reflect on the different types of projects we’ve worked on, the different types of designers we’ve worked with, the different geographies. And the fun we’ve had working on these amazing projects.
AJ: What is your favorite aspect of your job?
BK: As a teenager, I didn’t dream about selling rocks, but over the past 25 years, natural materials and architecture have become a true passion. I feel incredibly fortunate to have spent the last two decades discovering materials, collaborating with inspiring clients, and contributing to projects across the globe. And the best part? I still feel like we’re just getting started.
This gallery bench refines Utzon’s architectural truss detailing into a sculptural butterfly base, pairing it with generous Hopsack cushions to create a composed, artful seat that balances structure with quiet softness.
AJ: How do you balance functionality and aesthetics in your designs?
BK: I’ve come to believe that great design isn’t just about how something looks, it’s about how it makes you feel. Materials play a huge role in that. That’s why we describe our work as crafted with wonder. When you lean into the raw beauty and imperfections of nature, instead of trying to control or perfect them, something extraordinary happens. When you use quality materials and you allow those materials to be expressed well, they become timeless. This timelessness resonates from an aesthetic perspective and from an emotional perspective as well.
Like what you see? Get it first with a subscription to aspire design and home magazine.