From the architect:
This co-working project in Gregory Hills, NSW, completed in 2022 is designed to give entrepreneurial graduates an opportunity to thrive in their chosen field of study.
The client had leased an empty shell located within the new Hub precinct in Gregory Hills. The fitout needed to appeal to high-level young professionals, as such the design needed to contain lots of informal spaces to create a relaxed environment that fosters diversity of thought and innovation.
One of the more complex aspects of the project was that the design needed to respond to the first true natives of the digital era, Gen Z, in a sophisticated manner, whilst enticing people back into the office given the impacts of Covid-19 on working life.
We overcame this by workshopping elements of hospitality and residential design into the concept, to create an uplifting atmosphere that has a sense of calmness. We let well-being and collaboration be the main driver behind the scheme.
Design is a collaborative effort. Each client brings something different to the table and here the client was after a calm office environment. It felt like a natural choice to use warmer off-white tones that would contrast against the black and lighter shades of timber. We wanted to avoid the white-painted plasterboard look so layering was crucial to bring warmth into the space.
We played with the material’s textures and tones, and an off-white powder-coated metal mesh inlay grid ceiling enables glimpses through to the industrial exposed ceiling. Concrete overlay flooring was paired with herringbone timber floor, while the area rug and curved floor junction helps make the space not feel clinical. The delicate broken colour of the Porter’s French Wash was paired with the stable look of the timber battens wall cladding.
As collaboration was a crucial aspect of the brief we felt it was important that the collaborative seating area was placed at the centre (heart) of the workplace. The booth seats are semi-enclosed to foster intimacy and were placed next to the kitchenette to add to the informal setting.
As we know, natural light and planting improve productivity and may even reduce sick days. Therefore the desks are perpendicular to the windows to provide natural light and motorised sheer roller blinds were used to block out any distracting light. We utilised planting to bring warmth and life to the space.
We want to inspire creativity for the next generation of entrepreneurial graduates in their chosen field of study. We want them to feel uplifted, relaxed and engaged in an environment that contributes to the diversity of thought and innovation.
