Plytech’s Polaris HPL in Matt Black was the product of choice for desks and shelving during the interior fitout of Bettle & Associates’ brand new office. Polaris HPL delivered a stylish matt black finish to the work surfaces without the worry of fingerprints or marks.
An advertising and marketing agency, Bettle & Associates had relocated to a new office designed by Edwards White Architects, which featured refined building architecture, a large open office space and stunning views of the Waikato. For the interior fitout, spatial designers Designwell was contracted to create a modern, refined design that would be a fit match for the new building, and the agency’s creative style.
According to Designwell’s Alexander Wastney, the Bettle & Associates office was designed for studio members to share and cross-pollinate ideas, which informed the general layout.
A large communal table that ran down the length of the office provided a space for collaboration, as well as an area for the firm to present ideas to clients. Wastney wanted to use black for the desk surface to tie in with exterior elements of the building. However, black materials represent a major challenge for any working surface as these are known to leave fingerprints and marks.
“That’s where Polaris came in,” Wastney said. Plytech’s Polaris HPL in Matt Black was specified for the desks and shelving, each piece designed to have the same look and feel, with tubular steel legs and brass caps complementing the matt surface.
“The fact Polaris doesn’t leave fingerprints is pretty amazing for a black product,” Wastney noted. “It’s warm and soft to touch with a nice matt finish that’s really desirable, and the plywood edge when exposed creates an elegant detail for office furniture. It becomes a feature piece in the office.”
The large sheet format makes Polaris a very cost-effective material. “The beauty about Polaris is that it comes in a jumbo sheet size of 3000 x 1250mm. Offcuts from the sheet material were used for shelving. It’s a very efficient product when it comes to designing and building furniture,” he explained.
For Bettle and Associates, the final result is a sleek, modern office with smooth black surfaces that are practical yet stylish. “Having custom furniture made from Polaris adds a refined look and feel to a really nicely designed building,” Wastney added.
