The Western Sydney University (WSU) has just got a new office, gallery and meeting space in the shape of the Chancellery fit-out by Australian architects Allen Jack + Cottier.
The Sydney based architecture firm was called upon to work on this project – the redesign of an existing space within the university’s Parramatta campus – which would become one of the institution’s key centres.
'Our starting point with good workplace design is that it has to work at a practical level, whilst reflecting the vision and aspiration of our client,' says Allen Jack + Cottier’s Scott Norton. 'In this case, we were very fortunate that the Vice Chancellor clearly understood the value of good design.'
Warm timber, sourced locally, and the design’s clean, modern lines are matched by artworks and furniture, selected especially for this space. The program spans a whole floor within its building.
The project was not without its challenges. The architects had to work with relatively low ceiling heights that couldn’t be changed, but they managed to create a bright and inviting space thanks to a carefully calculated balance of natural and artificial light.
The program was also relatively unusual. It blends public areas – such as the gallery, where Western Sydney University’s collection of artworks and art gifts from other universities and institutions are displayed – with more private sections, such as the school’s administrative offices.
An undulating timber wall successfully divides the two areas. Differences in materials and colour palette create a further distinction.
Still, there is a clear unified approach in this project that combines workspaces with art display and public meeting areas. Matt finishes and natural materials ensure a warm and welcoming space throughout, for students and employees alike.
The project involved the redesign of a whole floor in an existing building at the university's Parramatta campus
The original space was dark and features low ceilings that couldn't be changed. The architects created a light filled space through a careful balance of natural and artificial lighting
The brief combined workspaces - some of the university's administrative offices are based in this building - with art display. This is where Western Sydney University’s collection of artworks and gifts from other universities and institutions are displayed
Differences in materials and colour palette create a further distinction between the project's functions
INFORMATION
For more information on Allen Jack + Cottier visit the website
Photography: Prue Ruscoe
-
Pharrell Williams’ latest Louis Vuitton show celebrates a ‘friendship for life’ with streetwear legend NigoLouis Vuitton men’s creative director Pharrell Williams looked towards his long friendship with BAPE founder Nigo to create a collaborative A/W 2025 menswear collection shown in Paris this evening (21 January 2025)
-
Think small, think electric, as Hyundai attempts to revolutionise the classic Indian three-wheelerHyundai’s Micro Mobility strategy, in collaboration with Indian manufacturer TVS, has revealed two conceptual takes on small electric urban transport in a bid to cut the country’s crushing pollution issue
-
‘Just beneath the surface there’s another world’: How David Lynch used hair and make-up to create his singular universeFrom Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive to Twin Peaks, David Lynch used hair and make-up in his films as a narrative device, writes Laura Havlin
-
Year in review: the top 12 houses of 2024, picked by architecture director Ellie StathakiThe top 12 houses of 2024 comprise our finest and most read residential posts of the year, compiled by Wallpaper* architecture & environment director Ellie Stathaki
-
A monolithic house in rural Victoria celebrates 50 shades of greyAdam Kane Architects’ monolithic house in rural Victoria, Grey House, is ‘a testament to the power of simplicity and harmony’
-
Is Rochester Street Office a creative worker’s dream? Inside a Sydney workspace echoing calmness and lightRochester Street Office by Allied_Office merges utilitarian design with cascading vegetation, presenting a thriving environment for creativity and collaboration
-
A Melbourne family home draws on classic modernism to create a pavilion in the landscapeThis Melbourne family home by Vibe Design Group was inspired by midcentury design and shaped to be an extension of its verdant site
-
Tour Clifton House, an airy Bondi family home, brimming with natural light and foliageClifton House by Anthony Gill Architects is a North Bondi home using an abundance of vegetation to create a slice of privacy within the suburbs
-
Tour this compact Melbourne home, where a small footprint is big on efficiency and experimentationNorthcote House is designed by architects David Leggett and Paul Loh as their own home in Melbourne
-
Bridging Boyd is the rebirth of a modernist Melbourne homeBridging Boyd by Jolson is a modernist Melbourne home reimagined for the 21st century
-
This Sydney house is a family's stylish seaside sanctuaryThis Sydney house is a young family's suburban dream come true thanks to Alexandra Kidd Interior Design and Rich Carr Architects
