Studio Edwards has designed a zero-waste workspace in Melbourne for B Corp registered creative agency Today Design. Client and architect were united in their 'unwavering' quest to create a piece of contemporary sustainable architecture in the office interior for the agency – its headquarters located in a 12-storey office block in the neighbourhood of Collingwood, within the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri/Woiwurrung people of the Kulin Nation.
Designing a zero-waste workspace
In order to achieve their goal, the architects, headed by studio founders Ben Edwards and Nancy Beka, opted to work entirely with readily available materials. There are no applied finishes in sight, and everything is placed fluidly around the existing building's rigid rectilinear column grid.
'This means no plasterboard, no laminate, and no MDF. All interior walls based on a standard material sheet size of 2.4m in height, minimising the need for cutting. Walls are crafted from timber framing and OSB board together with translucent corrugated sheeting that bathes the space in natural light while preserving privacy,' write the architects.
Sliding elements, fabrics and hinged panels serve as space dividers where and when needed. This results in a flowing interior with strong material textures and colour pops which bring vibrancy and a natural element where everything feels layered and tactile.
In terms of the workplace arrangements, large meeting tables and communal desk areas are balanced by private booths and dedicated video conferencing suites. Materiality takes centre stage everywhere, highlighting the project's innovative approach.
'Corrugated translucent panels wrap the meeting spaces, opening into an informal lounge/work area with scaffolded lounge modules that span the northern perimeter, providing a relaxed workspace with scenic views,' the architects continued.
'These modules are enveloped in translucent recycled sail cloth screens, offering privacy while allowing natural light to permeate.'
It all is testament to a harmonious client and architect collaboration, where a common goal energised and motivated the entire team. It is, hopefully, a 'space where creativity thrives in harmony with the environment,' they all agree.
-
Giant cats, Madonna wigs, pints of Guinness: seven objects that tell the story of fashion in 2024These objects tell an unconventional story of style in 2024, a year when the ephemera that populated designers’ universes was as intriguing as the collections themselves
-
How 2024 brought beauty and fashion closer than ever before2024 was a year when beauty and fashion got closer than ever before, with runway moments, collaborations and key launches setting the scene for 2025 and beyond
-
This listed house in London is transformed through a contemporary celebration of the archSegmental House, a listed house transformation by Dominic McKenzie Architects, taps into the playful powers of the contemporary arch
-
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
-
Wallpaper* Architects’ Directory 2024: meet the practicesIn the Wallpaper* Architects Directory 2024, our latest guide to exciting, emerging practices from around the world, 20 young studios show off their projects and passion
