The award, organised by Herman Miller, was presented as part of Reach, a two day celebration of design and innovation, held at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. The awards aim to celebrate the best in workplace innovation, highlighting the achievements of organisations and designers. “Design of the office used to revolve around how to accommodate technology and power rather than the user. With almost ubiquitous access to wireless data and diminishing sizes of devices, the shift now applies to design workspaces around driving collaboration and promoting user’s postural changes. The discipline of workspace design has entered of new phase.”
Spurred by a vision to design a workplace that is more business lounge than office, the new working environment allows for business growth and optimises performance by providing task orientated wireless and technologically enabled spaces allowing employees to utilise a range of settings, from concentrated private spaces to collaborative and project specific settings, coupled with a broad range of meeting rooms.
Key to activating the workplace was creating a three dimensional stack which would promote cross ‘group’ communication. Two stairs have been introduced into the floorplate at the north-east and south-east facades. One as part of the client experience to create a multi-layered meeting tree, and the other as part of the collaborative work zone: the creative link.
The stairs are integral to the design as they promote interaction and allow employees the feeling of being part of ‘their community’ but also linked to the wider organisation. This connection is enhanced by the use of technology, allowing the GPT ‘home base’ to link to other satellite sites and a key component of their business: the shopping centres.
The design responds to cues in the building, by expressing existing forms and materials, and exposing the building’s concrete structure. The front of house pod forms are extruded from the base building Nervi structure, and the sinuous language of the stair references forms created within Seidler buildings.
This language is extended throughout the fitout, and reveals in the grid ceiling, with flowing forms being juxtaposed against the rigid geometry of the floorplate. True to GPT’s core values is a strong interface with community and a commitment to the environment. Components from the former fitout were reused and recast into the new include; recycled timber joinery, reclaimed from the dark timber panelling; re-gassed chairs; and a stripped-back ceiling revealing the original, Seidler concrete ribbing.
Location: Sydney, Austrialia
Architect:WoodsBagot
Sustainability: Designed to achieve 6 Star Green Star
Area: 3,700 m2
Year: 2011
Client: The GPT Group