Project Overview

The new Melbourne studio of global design firm Unispace transforms a traditional 1980s office space into an agile, transparent and connected workplace for the firm’s rapidly growing team. The communal workbench which flows through the core, organically promotes collaborative and engaged project teams. Contrasting forms and materials create spaces to share, retreat, socialise and achieve bold ideas.

Organisation

Unispace

Team

Simon Pole, Dean Rikanovic, Alex Brookes, Stephanie Rodas, Brett Larkin, Mark Jansz, Drew Alford

Project Brief

Over the space of two years, our humble Melbourne studio grew from a team of five to 25. Our team was physically divided over two floors, impeding the collaborative way our strategists, designers and construction professionals work. We seized upon our upcoming move to Collins Street in Melbourne, to create an agile layout that reflects our unique methodology.

Project Innovation/Need

Unispace Melbourne was carefully crafted to create a memorable, tangible and practical demonstration of agile working in motion, supported by the right technology and behaviours.

Upon arrival, clients are greeted by a concierge style reception and business lounge with views through to Fitzroy gardens. A strategically placed breakout creates a magnetic hub for informal presentations and discussions, and is fully equipped to host large client functions flowing into the heart of the studio.

The space is zoned to allow people to connect and disconnect. We can retreat to a quiet space to focus, shift to the project room to create and innovate, or socialise in the open breakout area.

Design Challenge

The design outcome needed to align with our company vision and support the evolution of our culture and way of working.

This was addressed through the organically shaped workbench which flows through the core. It's also a visual nod to our other global studios. Unassigned seating means our thinkers, creators and makers can work collaboratively, the platform from which our integrated working methodology is built.

Suspended from the mesh ceiling, is a continuous light beam which weaves its way across the studio. Beautiful and practical it provides task lighting for the two communal workbenches and further links them together. Light is reflected up off the mesh ceiling bathing the studio in an atmospheric glow.

Sustainability

Sustainability is an integral part of our methodology and we adopted a best practice approach for the design and delivery of our Melbourne studio. We maximised access to natural light and external views, incorporated controllable lighting systems, recyclable waste storage management, certified timber, ecological applications and specified low VOC content material.