Office Concept V13N1 | Workplace Interior Design and Modern Office Furniture

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EXPRESSING A COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY | PUTTING ENGINEERING ON SHOW | SPACES TO WORK AND UNWIND ENCOURAGING MOVEMENT AND COLLABORATION | DESIGN FOR BETTER HEALTH | CO-WORKING THAT STANDS OUT

SMART & SLEEK UNDERFLOOR POWER SOLUTION

OFFICE CONCEPT

STICKING TOGETHER WHILE STAYING APART We live in extraordinary times, which, at times, call for extraordinary measures.

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s I’m writing these words, the Coronavirus has the world on its knees, impacting world populations at large and crippling the global economy. The optimist in me hopes that the situation will miraculously improve by the time this issue manifests itself in print form, but that seems unlikely, as things stand. Faced with such a desperate scenario, one is forced to take heed of the positives and be grateful for what one has and take solace in the fact that, although the spread of COVID-19 has driven us physically apart as communities, people all over the world stand firmly united as humans.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

The coming together of this issue has been challenging, to say the least, but it’s also infinitely rewarding to be able to move ahead with the humble endeavour of bringing our readers the best and latest in office furniture design, in spite of the wrench in the works thrown by recent events.

Our current cover star is Hassell, an exceptional international firm with roots in Australia.

Committed to impacting communities and the environment positively through good sensible design, the practice continues to prioritise sustainability and grassroots efforts as a part of its overall approach. Bringing to life projects that emphasise a sense of community, communication and discovery, Hassell’s work seemingly underscores what exactly is needed to get through this trying time. Thank you for your kind collaboration on this issue.

For more information on projects and products, I would encourage readers to visit OFFICECONCEPTDESIGN.COM. Don’t forget to show the featured designers some love by sharing your favourites on social media.

In the meantime, keep well and stay strong. We’re in this together.

Kenneth Khu k@kennethmedia.asia

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AWAY FROM THE DESK by ORANGEBOX

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WORKSPACE ARCHITECTURE & INTERIOR DESIGN EXPRESSING A COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY PUTTING ENGINEERING ON SHOW PROMOTING INTERACTION WITHOUT BOUNDARIES DESIGN FOR AN INDUSTRY IN TRANSITION A LANTERN FOR MELBOURNE’S DOCKLANDS SPACES TO WORK AND UNWIND ENCOURAGING MOVEMENT AND COLLABORATION MAKING HEALTH A WORKPLACE PRIORITY DESIGN FOR BETTER HEALTH LINAR by GIRSBERGER

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FITTING INTERIORS ACTIVE VERSATILITY SOUND OF LIGHT RHYTHMIC REVOLUTION THE PATH TO ONE BILLION POWER UNDERCOVER COLLECTIVE PRODUCTIVITY PROGRESS IN PRIVATE WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES

ATACAMA by MARELLI

DNA by BOSS DESIGN

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editorial MANAGING EDITOR Kenneth Khu DEPUTY EDITOR Pang Yin Ying EDITOR Christine Lee design ART DIRECTOR Eric Phoon SENIOR DESIGNER Sandy Liew contributors WRITERS Adele Chong, Lily Wong WORKSPACE ARCHITECTURE & INTERIOR DESIGN Hassell sales & marketing SENIOR SALES MANAGER Edmond Lee SALES EXECUTIVE Kelvin Ong publication PUBLISHER Kenneth Khu

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enquiries ADVERTISING advertising.oc@kennethmedia.asia EDITORIAL get.featured@kennethmedia.asia CONTRIBUTION join.us@kennethmedia.asia SUBSCRIPTION subscribe.oc@kennethmedia.asia

OKAY.III by KÖNIG + NEURATH

website OFFICECONCEPTDESIGN.COM | KENNETHMEDIA.ASIA contact KENNETH MEDIA SDN BHD 1002 Block D Tiara Kelana Jalan SS7/19 Kelana Jaya 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia T: +603 7887 4525 photo credits COVER: HASSELL SECTION OPENER: WORKSPACE ARCHITECTURE & INTERIOR DESIGN HASSELL FITTING INTERIORS BRISTOL printer PERCETAKAN IMPRINT (M) SDN BHD No.538, Jalan 20 Taman Perindustrian Ehsan Jaya, Kepong 52100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia permit number KDN PP18848/09/2015(034306) MCI(P) 052/01/2020 magazine OC | Office Concept is published three times a year and is circulated throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Opinions expressed are those of the contributors and not necessarily endorsed by the publisher.

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copyright notice All rights, including copyright, in the content of this publication are owned

by Kenneth Media Sdn Bhd, Malaysia. You are not permitted to copy, broadcast, download, store in any medium, transmit, show or play in public, adapt or change any in any way the content of this publication for any other purpose whatsoever without the prior written permission of Kenneth Media Sdn Bhd, Malaysia.

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Created in response to the changing dynamics of an increasingly nomadic work culture, the Away from the Desk collection by Orangebox seamlessly accommodates both teamwork and personal work, thanks to its deftly adaptable design. Featuring a high back structure that offers much in the way of refined acoustics and visual privacy, this impressive ergonomically controlled upholstery system encompasses staffers’ power, data and monitor requirements while transforming office environments with its versatile multiple specification options.

There are boardroom chairs, and then, there are boardroom chairs. With Boss Design’s Delphi, it’s infinitely clear why this dashing model is the more exceptional of the two. Exemplary of the brand’s high production standards, this lounge seat-like number boasts an upholstered sprung seat and back as well as a superior tilt mechanism that offers unprecedented comfort. Functional and beautifully finished, Delphi makes calling the shots look as good as it feels.

Girsberger’s penchant for products expertly wrought with fine wood again makes a splash with the Linar table. Set atop a sturdy, four-legged steel structure, this stunning solid wood table cuts a handsome figure, owing to its streamlined appearance. Designed by Mathias Seiler, Linar’s subtly articulated details include beveled edges that underscore its understated elegance.

Available in a wide variety of wood and surface finishes in lengths of up to four metres.

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BASICALLY THE BEST

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Created by French architect and designer Jérôme Gauthier for Giulio Marelli, this elegantly constructed contract modular seating system, turns heads with its deft combination of function and aesthetics. Whether clad in fabric, leather or artificial leather, this versatile piece is perfectly suited for both lounges and work environments.

Bolstering wooden panels perched neatly on a metal tube frame, H-Sofa’s interchangeable seats and backrests are generously padded for ample comfort and style.

Impersonal and ubiquitous, the visitor or meeting chair is normally a run-of-the-mill affair that holds little surprise. Not so with the Acorn chair

by Orangebox. One of the brand’s more recent additions, this cleverly crafted number reigns supreme in the subtlest of ways. By making essential tweaks to a familiar form, designer Phil Hallett has successfully created a stackable chair that proffers unexpected comfort in spite of its barebones appearance.

Boss Design’s penchant for combining high quality materials and exemplary craftsmanship is taken to another level with new DNA chair.

A lounge chair that’s equal parts style and substance, the engineered upholstery of this elegant piece makes it a seat like no other.

Reinforced with moulded foam and added springs for utmost stability and comfort, DNA’s sense of polish is brought to the fore by topnotch sewing and tailoring details unique to this collection.

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KEY LINE

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YOUR WORK RHYTHM. YOUR WORK CULTURE. OKAY.III Dynamic or relaxed with OKAY.III The backrest with the bounce bands follows every movement – and your work culture finds its own rhythm.

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Designed with laidback work environments in mind, Fabre is a perfect fit for domestic areas and offices alike. Its easygoing look and feel is the ideal complement for this task chair’s lightweight design, presented as a stark contrast to its more heavyweight counterparts. Set on rolling canisters, Fabre proffers ongoing comfort and pelvic support, even over prolonged work periods. For added customisation, the chair is available in eleven uplifting hues and fabrics.

An upgraded version of a sensibly basic furniture piece, the Nava range by Girsberger presents a fresh new take on the quintessential multipurpose moulded shell chair. With fourteen scintillating hues of leather on offer, the latest addition to this noteworthy collection is a skidframe version, which also comes with an armrest add-on. Luxurious details such as a full-grain leather-clad shell as well as black stained oak and walnut armrest options make this Nava variant a true collector’s pick.

An eye-catching pick for the waiting room area, this futuristic modular seating system from Giulio Marelli will ensure that your clients and business acquaintances are always well catered for. Atacama’s flexible components can be easily reconfigured to suit all manner of environments while effortlessly adapting to space constraints.

Encompassing sofa and ottoman modules as well as accompanying accessories, this system’s interchangeable attributes deftly address the needs of our fast paced times.

KOKUYO-FURNITURE.COM

JAAN SILENT

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FOSTER 620

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WORKSPACE ARCHITECTURE & INTERIOR DESIGN

DESIGN FIRM FOR THE FUTURE HASSELL IS A LEADING INTERNATIONAL DESIGN PRACTICE WITH STUDIOS IN ASIA, AUSTRALIA, THE UNITED STATES, AND THE UNITED KINGDOM. THEIR PURPOSE IS TO DESIGN THE WORLD’S BEST PLACES – PLACES PEOPLE LOVE.

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ack in 1938, Hassell was founded in Australia by a small group of architects with a big vision.

Today, they’re a multi-disciplinary design practice with a talented team working together around the world, combining strategic insight with creative design to unlock the social, cultural and economic value of places.

Globalisation, climate change, urbanisation, and digitisation present new opportunities and challenges for how we live. In this fast-changing context, Hassell bring together the best designers and thinkers in a unique collaborative process that results in both beautiful design and measurable value.

Hassell work across architecture, landscape architecture, interior design and urban design - a rich multidisciplinary mix of skills and perspectives that unlocks the economic, social and cultural value of projects.

Combining their creative design expertise with capabilities in strategy, research, technology and experience design, Hassell regularly collaborates with the best minds in research, industry and design worldwide with a commitment to making a positive impact on communities and the environment.

Through their work, Hassell are trying to build a more inclusive, sustainable future for communities - and create a more socially and ecologically resilient world.

They’re passionate about listening to the perspectives

of the people surrounding projects, giving back in the countries where they operate, and contributing to grassroots efforts to expand minds and opportunities through design.

As an active member of international industry bodies – such as the Green Building Council of Australia, the China Green Building Council Foreign Membership Scheme and the US Green Building Council – Hassell strongly believes that as designers, they are uniquely placed to mitigate climate impacts through the decisions made on projects every day.

In 2019 Hassell joined a group of leading design practices in Australia, the UK, and Singapore to declare a climate and biodiversity emergency and pledged to respond with action by signing Architects Declare.

Diversity in design plays a major role in the practice, promoting gender balance across the field through initiatives such as their own Women in Design program and platforms like Parlour. Hassell also foster nextgen designers from varied cultures and backgrounds through partnerships with groups like CareerTrackers, a non-profit that oversees the paid internships Hassell offer to Indigenous Australian university students.

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AMP MELBOURNE, WORKPLACE

EXPRESSING A COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY LOCATED ON COLLINS STREET IN MELBOURNE’S CITY CENTRE, THE WORKPLACE COMBINES HINTS FROM THE AUSTRALIAN CITY’S ICONIC LANEWAYS WITH THE WARMTH AND VIBRANCY OF A CAFÉ.

Photography by Nicole England

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he Australian financial services company AMP wanted a new workplace that physically expressed its commitment to sustainability. It wanted to offer an experience that improves the lives of the people who work there and inspire them to be their best.

A sense of connection The Hassell design for AMP Melbourne’s workplace took cues from the veins of the city itself, the network of bustling, creative laneways. The concept draws on the connection and interactive nature of these urban alleys to create a workplace full of discovery and meaningful interactions.

Vibrant graphic artworks twist through the workplace’s main thoroughfares, while natural planting and vines snake down the stairwell like a hanging garden, a nod to Melbourne’s urban landscape. The laneways and central staircase foster a sense of community, encouraging new daily rituals of navigation and casual connections and incidental interactions between colleagues and visitors.

The singular, sculptural stair makes a bold statement.

A bespoke double void allowed for the switchback stair

The sculptural timber staircase is a centrepiece that encourages discovery and meaningful interactions right across the workplace.

OFFICECONCEPTDESIGN.COM

AMP MELBOURNE, WORKPLACE

connection from the central client floor to all adjacent working floors above and below. By using timber on both the handrail and steps the space is made to feel even more natural, warm and inviting – and brings the workplace together as a whole.

Visitors to the working floors are greeted by a centrally-located social neighbourhood which stretches the length of the floorplate. With its collaboration zones, quiet library areas and spaces for social interaction and breakouts, this zone is key in creating a community at the heart of the workspace.

Between this and the agile work-zone, a mid-level soft furniture ‘barrier’ delineates work and play, noting the change in landscape and function and supporting small huddles and quiet collaboration. Digital wayfinding is placed at the entry to this zone and is immediately accessible from the central stair and void.

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A united front Presenting a united front was imperative for AMP in its new workplace. Placing the destination floor centrally through the five-floor stack allowed for multi-functional spaces, client-facing meeting rooms, technology support and wellness areas to be located democratically for all to use.

The working floors boast collaboration zones, quiet library areas, and spaces for social interaction.

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AMP MELBOURNE, WORKPLACE 028 The design reflects the curiosity and social elements of Melbourne’s iconic laneways.

The client-facing floor also features a destination cafe serviced by a not for profit organisation for all to enjoy – whether clients arriving for meetings or employees breaking away from the work floors to socialise and re-energise together, the iconic mix of Melbourne’s laneway and cafe culture was brought to life in a place where people can mix and mingle.

Health plus wellbeing AMP and Hassell worked together to create a truly healthy workplace, somewhere that goes above and beyond to offer employees opportunities to work, rest, re-energise, and share ideas. Hassell designed the space for the modern employee, who is increasingly seeking a healthy connection between work and home. By including specific spaces for meditation and retreat, the workplace sends a strong message to employees that their wellbeing is important.

This connection to Biophilia – the connection between people and the natural world – was a strong theme for the AMP Melbourne workplace. Greenery, colour and diffused light all work cohesively to create moments to connect to nature - to reflect, take respite and feel calm. Ultimately, the new workplace reflected the way in which AMP’s employees work together and for their customers - with integrity, honesty and passion.

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ARUP WORKPLACE, MELBOURNE

PUTTING ENGINEERING ON SHOW ARUP’S MELBOURNE WORKPLACE ‘PULLS BACK THE CURTAIN’ TO REVEAL HOW THE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS, PROCESS OF DISCOVERY AND POWER OF ENGINEERING DEFINE THEIR COMPANY AND CULTURE.

Photography by Earl Carter

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espite their move to a conventional commercial building, Arup wanted their new offices to feel creative and open to everyone – a place that draws people in, inspires them to do their best work and encourages them to mix with colleagues and clients daily.

Hassell worked in partnership with Arup on a project that fulfils the promise of their ‘living.Arup’ guidelines, which was developed together to set the design direction of their offices across Asia and Australia, including their Sydney workplace.

‘Hackable’ spaces add energy and variety to the workplace From the moment you enter via an elevated ‘Sky Park’ – not the typical lift lobby – Arup Melbourne sends a signal that they’re not doing business as usual.

The workplace takes up three floors, but expansive voids with mezzanines create a cascading, terraced effect that results in five separate levels – or one huge, multi-connected space for all kinds of work and programs.

Design studios on the top of the mezzanines act as ‘hackable’ spaces for sharing ideas and experimenting – practices that define Arup’s culture. There are sound

Together, Hassell and Arup have created a workplace that allows teams to work collaboratively wherever, whenever.

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ARUP WORKPLACE, MELBOURNE

and light labs, a maker’s space and an experiential lab for learning, researching and testing. In addition, formal and informal meeting areas, training rooms, a working kitchen and a co-working-style cafe for clients and suppliers are dotted across the levels.

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A showcase for engineering that is also warm and inviting The workplace is a perfect combination of creative design thinking and integrated engineering. For example, the exposed stairs, ramp and mezzanine steel structures – which extend out into the void – demonstrate Arup’s technical prowess. Similarly, services and acoustic treatments are on show, not hidden away.

At the same time, the space feels warm and inviting, with materials like cork and timber bringing a softer touch. Extensive planting and vistas add to the healthy, vibrant atmosphere.

Together, Hassell and Arup have designed a workplace that embodies everything Arup stands for within this dynamic, free flowing space that feels alive with possibilities.

Natural materials like cork and timber make Arup’s workspace feel warm and down to earth.

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ARUP WORKPLACE, MELBOURNE 034 Extensive planting brings the outside in, improving air quality and the overall wellbeing of the people working there.

Strategy for both Melbourne and Sydney workplaces The design revolved around meeting seven strategic objectives at Arup to create a workplace that: - Allows staff and visitors to experience Arup at work - Supports the full spectrum of working modes - Makes Arup’s people visible - Challenges their people and inspires them - Is efficient and easy to use - Is flexible, elastic and adaptable - Expresses health and sustainability The key challenges Hassell faced in meeting those objectives included: - Same but different: Each workplace needed to convey the essence of Arup while still feeling like a place with a meaningful, local difference. Real insight was needed into each location to get the balance right.

- Space to explore: Across the organisation, there’s an emphasis on sharing knowledge and experimenting with new ideas. But how people do that still varies across sites, where there’s a wide range of working styles. It took smart thinking and careful planning to meet all the different needs – and do it within budget and space constraints.

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ARUP WORKPLACE, SYDNEY

PROMOTING INTERACTION WITHOUT BOUNDARIES A RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE, A COMMITMENT TO PUSHING BOUNDARIES AND CONSISTENTLY CHALLENGING NORMS HAVE BEEN THE DRIVING FORCES IN ENGINEERING FIRM ARUP’S NEW OFFICE IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA.

Photography by Earl Carter

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n a long-standing collaboration between design and engineering, Hassell partnered with Arup to create a workplace where the exchange of knowledge and skills through learning and experimentation – central tenets of Arup’s work culture – are not only facilitated, but lived by all.

International engineering firm Arup regularly pushes boundaries and challenges norms in a constant pursuit of technical excellence. Those same driving forces define the company’s new Sydney workplace – a powerful collaboration between engineers and designers.

Arup involved Hassell early in the construction planning of the central city property at Barrack Place, where the firm was both the building engineer and the future tenant. This gave the team a prime opportunity to influence the building’s architecture and engineering to align with their vision for the office interior.

Hassell worked hand-in-hand with Arup through every step of the process to create spaces that stimulate and support the kind of learning and experimentation Arup thrives on – and put the company’s culture on show.

The approach to designing Arup’s Sydney workplace was all about open and transparent spaces that enhance connections.

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ARUP WORKPLACE, SYDNEY 038 Employees and visitors can interact and collaborate - and test and exchange ideas without physical boundaries.

A place to interact without boundaries – and test and exchange ideas Arup wanted to send a clear message to both employees and visitors that they are free to interact without boundaries. In response, the underlying approach was all about designing open and transparent spaces that amplify physical and visual connections.

At the heart of the workplace is a four-storey void connecting all five floors. Horizontal and vertical views across and between levels allow for wide-angle views of Arup’s everyday operations.

‘Exchange’ spaces throughout the offices are adjacent to the void, where they are most visible. Each has a different focus or activity – whether it’s a sound or light lab, a maker’s space, or a meeting or workshop zone. The common thread across all of them is the value of collaboration between Arup’s people, clients and partners.

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ARUP WORKPLACE, SYDNEY 040 Bridges span the voids on two levels - a play on Arup’s engineering origins and broad expertise that keep people moving around the space.

Sustainable outcomes From the acoustics to light and air quality, the clear views, yoga and meditation room, and ergonomic furniture, not to mention the best-in-class end-of-trip facilities, the attention to ‘wellness’ in this workplace is unique. Arup’s careful traffic and pedestrian modelling has even enabled cyclists to ride straight off the street and into the building.

The fitout achieved a 6 Star Green Star - Interiors v1.1 Design Review Certified rating and will achieve a 5 Star NABERS Energy and 4 Star NABERS Water rating. It will use 100% green power as part of Arup’s commitment to sustainability.

A potent mix of engineering and design The staircase, connecting exchange areas vertically, is a design and engineering feat – a cast concrete structure floating between floors. This visual manifestation of Arup’s ingenuity and honesty adds to the overall energy of the workplace, and the sense that things are always moving and changing.

Bridges span the voids on two levels, linking work zones via collaboration spaces. These design moves – a play on Arup’s engineering origins and broad expertise – keep people flowing across the floor.

Overall, this Sydney workplace is a potent mix of technical engineering and creative design, and a benchmark for future Arup locations.

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BAKER MCKENZIE, SYDNEY

DESIGN FOR AN INDUSTRY IN TRANSITION WHILE MOST COMPANIES HAVE ENGAGED IN AGILE AND FLEXIBLE WORKPLACES FOR SOME TIME, THIS IS A NEW APPROACH FOR A LAW FIRM, AND NOW A NEW NORMAL FOR BAKER MCKENZIE. Photography by Nicole England

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esigning for an industry in transition requires creativity, collaboration and flexibility. So when creating global law firm Baker McKenzie’s new Barangaroo, Sydney office, Hassell developed a hybrid workplace that will serve the company now and into the future – and set a new benchmark for legal workplace design.

‘Offices’ without walls, traditional office spaces, non-allocated quiet rooms, breakout hubs and open workstations – it’s the new normal for Baker McKenzie as it settles into its home at International Towers after 40 years at 50 Bridge Street, Sydney.

It’s a design that takes into consideration the changing nature of the practice of law, from a profession perceived to be stuck in the past to one that’s embracing technology and different ways of working with clients.

A physical space that reflects strong values A commissioned kinetic installation by artist Marion Borgeld hangs over a three-storey void that also contains the striking staircase, connecting the entire firm. Meeting spaces and breakout hubs across the three floors are accessed via the stairs, with guests and clients encouraged to use all levels.

A kinetic installation by artist Marion Borgeld hangs over the staircase that connects a three-storey void - used by staff, guests and clients every day.

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Equity of space Baker McKenzie’s commitment to ‘equity of space’ led to the design of open offices – offices that are identical to an enclosed office, without the walls. Lawyers can now choose from a variety of workspaces to suit them and their teams. Office walls can be removed (or added) as needed, with no impact to the furniture layout or floor plan – and without sacrificing equity, daylight, views and diversity.

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BAKER MCKENZIE, SYDNEY

The new workplace strongly represents the values of Baker McKenzie, which include a commitment to embracing diversity and bringing clients and staff closer together.

The firm now sits over three seamlessly connected floors, after occupying eight disconnected and relatively small scale floors at its previous address.

Daylight, views, and diversity drove the design, with greater staff wellbeing a welcomed benefit.

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BAKER MCKENZIE, SYDNEY

A suite of large function rooms breaks the traditional mould of the long and impersonal client floor corridor with theatrical curved plaster panels, while nested glazed meeting rooms echo the rounded form of the International Tower buildings.

A large cafe brings people together for both collaboration and social meetings over panoramic views from the Blue Mountains, across the city and beyond Sydney Harbour.

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On time and under budget There were only eight months from the time Baker McKenzie formed a design committee and appointed Hassell to the date of the office move. Eight months to design and build a workplace for 420 people. It’s a testament to the quality, commitment and collaborative efforts of the team that the new office was opened on time and under budget.

The workplace breaks the mould of traditional legal offices, balancing flexible and innovative design with transparency and privacy.

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COLLINS SQUARE TOWER 2, MELBOURNE

A LANTERN FOR MELBOURNE’S DOCKLANDS BENEATH THE GLISTENING SURFACE OF COLLINS SQUARE’S TOWER 2 IS A HIGH-PERFORMANCE BUILDING FOR THE MOST DISCERNING TENANTS.

Photography by Peter Bennetts

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ollins Square is one of Australia’s largest commercial mixed-use developments, covering an entire city block of Melbourne’s coveted Collins Street.

A standout among its cluster of towers is the striking, 38-storey Tower 2, designed by Hassell to make a mark on the city – and create the ideal environment for business to flourish.

A shimmering landmark on the city’s skyline The top 11 floors have been conceived as a ‘crystalline lantern’ to cap the building. This delineation between the upper and lower floors breaks up the bulk of the tower – the tallest of five at Collins Square.

The distinctive design also means Tower 2 is instantly recognisable from vantage points across the city.

A future-proofed tower to attract and retain the best tenants All floors can be subdivided to adapt to changes in leasing arrangements, and they’re easily modified for the ‘activity based working’ approach now favoured by so many companies.

The striking, 38-storey Tower 2 makes a mark on Melbourne’s skyline – and creates the ideal environment for business to flourish.

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COLLINS SQUARE TOWER 2, MELBOURNE

Several multi-level tenancies are also connected by sweeping, spiral staircases that encourage daily movement and interaction between floors.

The building also incorporates a lobby with soaring voids, a 3,000sqm-plus business and events centre for up to 400 people, and retail and dining on the lower levels.

Healthy working that’s easy and efficient The tower – with its ecologically efficient water practices and abundant light and fresh air – has a 5 Star Green Star rating. In fact, Collins Square overall has the highest concentration of environmentally sustainable buildings in the Southern Hemisphere.

Tenants also have the option to create ‘winter gardens’ by carving out a space within the facade for an open-air terrace.

In addition to the architecture, Hassell designed the landscapes for the building’s executive terrace and dividing floor between the lower levels and ‘lantern’.

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World class end-of-trip facilities Collins square wanted a high standard of amenity and maximum flexibility for tenants – and the building delivers on both counts. Collins Square knew that having premium end-of-trip facilities would encourage more workers to commit to a healthier mode of transport into the office, such as cycling or walking, bringing an increase in productivity and general wellbeing to workers.

The tower includes a bicycle store that has 458 spaces available, which is accessible from street-level for prompt storing. It also has a bike repair centre and vending machines with spare parts, just in case something goes haywire on the way into the office.

The change rooms were designed for comfort. A large shared area that then splits off into private facilities, including 45 separate showers, a towel service, and a powered drying room.

This landmark building in Melbourne has created an environment in which business can flourish.

Sweeping, spiral staircases add a level of drama to the tower, while the terrace is a meeting space in the sky.

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FORA BOROUGH, LONDON

SPACES TO WORK AND UNWIND FORA BOROUGH SITS IN THE HEART OF ONE OF LONDON’S MOST ICONIC AND HISTORIC MARKET DISTRICTS. LIKE ALL THE BRAND’S PROPERTIES, IT TAKES CUES FROM ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD – A DYNAMIC, COLOURFUL PLACE. Photography by Mark Cocksedge, Hufton + Crow

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n a competitive co-working market, Fora is raising the bar for future workplace design in London. Their beautifully designed and highly curated ‘residences’ – like the new Fora Borough – cater to discerning professionals who are serious about their work.

Hassell partnered with Fora founders Katrina Larkin (creator of The Big Chill music festival) and global hotel executive, Enrico Sanna, to develop a set of design principles that establish a consistent yet adaptable baseline for future Fora residences. Fora Borough is the first residence to be delivered based on these new guidelines.

The fundamentals of Fora in Borough Fora Borough sits over eight floors offering over 3000 square meters of workplace. Incorporated into the design are the four key pillars of the Fora brand: unbeatable service, amazing design, state-of-the-art technology and an ever-expanding network of interesting people. These are embodied in the variety of options provided within the built environment at Borough.

The main dining space and a co-working bar is separated by brass railings. Signature floors above

The colours and finishes right across the co-working space reflect Fora Borough’s vibrant, dynamic neighbourhood.

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FORA BOROUGH, LONDON also mix active and social spaces, including zones that use food and a fully stocked kitchen to bring people together. Colours and finishes across these Boroughinspired spaces are bold, textured and vibrant to reflect the local scene.

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More ways to work, more ways to unwind Professionals using the seven-floor property can choose from a range of office types – like flexible, premium fixed or open desks – as well as settings such as quiet phone booths, lounge areas, nooks for focused tasks or a boardroom.

Fora Borough also offers the kind of perks normally associated with large corporations. On-site wellness facilities include a premium gym with a full roster of workout classes and dedicated personal trainers.

A variety of work types, collaboration spaces and communal areas increases productivity and incidental socialising.

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FORA BOROUGH, LONDON 056 The Level 5 retreat in the sky - a shared space for all co-workers - has premium views of London’s skyline and boosts wellbeing.

A colour palette and materials with a ‘very Fora’ feel On the standard floors, calm, understated tones and high quality materials and finishes create a premium feel but also reflect Fora’s low-key approach to branding.

For residents, Level 5 is a retreat in the sky complete with an outdoor terrace with sunlit garden, a café bar, a library and a mezzanine lounge. This shared space – flexible enough to host events and pop ups – features a double height-void reminiscent of the high canopies of an historic market while the edible garden calls to mind the produce stalls found there. There’s also incredible views of the Shard and St Pauls, ideal conversation starters with fellow co-workers.

It all adds up to an exceptional workspace with a strong sense of community both within and outside its walls.

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GSK ASIA HOUSE, SINGAPORE

ENCOURAGING MOVEMENT AND COLLABORATION THE PURPOSE-BUILT ASIA HEADQUARTERS FOR GLOBAL HEALTHCARE BUSINESS GSK IS A BEACON OF HEALTH IN THE REGION.

Photography by Peter Bennetts, Nicole England

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assell designed GSK Asia House – located in Singapore’s strategic One North business hub – to exemplify the healthcare leader’s agile and collaborative working principles. The aim was to keep people and ideas flowing freely across this highperforming workplace.

GSK’s vision for their Asian base GSK’s Smart Working principles – conceived by their service and technology experts – were central to the design process for GSK Asia House. These formed the basis for envisioning a healthy, stimulating environment designed to encourage movement and collaboration between employees.

Hassell took what the company had learned from its existing Smart Working sites and applied it to the design principles for this project. Taking these learnings from around the world, the design principles for GSK Asia House anticipate how new ways of working in Singapore will evolve over time.

The building’s highly transparent exterior lets the sunshine in, connects with the surrounding parklands, and is a symbol of GSK’s ways of working.

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GSK ASIA HOUSE, SINGAPORE 060

An enabler for innovation GSK wanted a workplace that enables greater crossfunctional collaboration across business lines – to break down barriers and enable quicker, more effective ways of working. Hassell brought this to life by creating a horseshoe-shaped flexible floorplate arranged around a central atrium that sets the bulk of the building to one side so people can reach each other more easily across the open, free-flowing space.

Key to driving innovation at GSK Asia House is the Global Learning Centre (GLC), designed to enable a deeper level of engagement for staff and leadership to share knowledge.

GSK Asia House features over 15 different types of working environments, like creative collaboration spaces and external Wi-Fi enabled landscape settings, fostering collaboration and the sharing of ideas between employees, as well as encouraging wellbeing and movement in and around the workplace.

The architectural concept of ‘building in a park’ and the screen of ‘petals’ was inspired by Singapore’s connection to nature.

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GSK ASIA HOUSE, SINGAPORE 062 With over 15 different types of working environments, the space celebrates collaboration and the sharing of ideas.

Building in a park The building form is designed as a unique response to its context, inspired by Singapore’s abundant landscape and the building’s parkland setting at Rochester Park.

The overarching architectural concept was to create a ‘building in a park’. To further enhance the connection to nature, the design of the main building has been conceived as a screen of ‘petals’ that create a distinctive, climate-responsive façade.

Existing mature trees have been largely retained and complemented with an extensive new tropical planting scheme. Overall, the site contains over 62,000 individual plants and trees of approximately 90 species.

The park setting is the key driver of the landscape concept, creating a sense for employees that they are arriving through and working in a natural setting.

Connection to community The landscape design supplements the architectural concept by seamlessly embedding GSK’s highly transparent new headquarters into the established parklands and buildings around it, including three colonial heritage bungalows that have been integrated into the site, housing a staff gym, fitness studio and an executive retreat facility.

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LENDLEASE GLOBAL HEADQUARTERS, SYDNEY

MAKING HEALTH A WORKPLACE PRIORITY INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY GROUP LENDLEASE WANTED A DYNAMIC, ENERGETIC WORKPLACE FOR ITS SYDNEY HQ – SOMEWHERE THAT WOULD INSPIRE THEIR PEOPLE AND STRENGTHEN BONDS AND TEAMWORK ACROSS EVERY LEVEL OF THE BUSINESS. Photography by Nicole England

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endlease wanted to create a high-performance workplace that exudes energy – a place where people want to be, where they feel inspired and where collaboration comes naturally each day.

The workplace delivers on those goals and more. It makes health a priority, with dual internal stairs promoting constant movement and natural light and plants – including a double-storey green wall – blurring the line between inside and out.

Lendlease is the developer of Barangaroo South in Sydney – one of the most significant waterfront regenerations in the world. The company moved its head office to one of three commercial buildings on the site, with Hassell engaged to design their new, agile workplace.

Team-based working for 2,000 people The Hassell design responds to Lendlease’s aim to “encourage greater connectivity between our leaders and people” and to make health a priority in all aspects of the workplace, which brings together around 2,000 employees from five different locations.

Spaces to solve problems in a collaborative and warm setting; spaces where people want to be and where they feel inspired.

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LENDLEASE GLOBAL HEADQUARTERS, SYDNEY

Within the workplace, employees are not tied to an individual desk. Instead, they belong to a ‘team studio’ or ‘neighbourhood’ of 15 to 20 people.

Each of these zones has immediate access to a wide range of functional spaces for everything from group brainstorms to tasks requiring quiet concentration.

Giving back more space for staff and guests The efficiencies Hassell developed and tested through the design and planning process allowed for one floor plate to be ‘given back’ to Lendlease, resulting in a hub floor for staff and their guests.

This hub includes event and bid spaces, a health retreat, an IT service point and an externally operated café at the heart of it all.

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Bringing the outside into the workplace The design blurs the distinction between inside and outside, with natural light and greenery visible and accessible from all parts of the workplace.

Even high up in the tower, the workplace feels in tune with the Barangaroo waterfront rejuvenation and creates a motivating, healthy place for staff to work.

One entire floor has been given over to staff and guests - a hub that elevates office culture and morale.

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LENDLEASE GLOBAL HEADQUARTERS, SYDNEY 068 The workplace feels in tune with the Barangaroo waterfront rejuvenation and creates a motivating, healthy place for staff to work.

Health at its heart - 6 Star Green Star Office Design rating from the Green Building Council of Australia.

- Highest honour in Green Building Council of Australia’s internationally recognised sustainability-rating system - 40% of work settings are stand up desks - 1000 bike racks for staff in the building Design highlights - Dual internal stairs – a key element of the design – promotes constant movement and interaction through all 11 floors - Social zones near the stairs are visible from above and below, drawing people through the workplace - Garden zone at the perimeter of every floor forms a working ‘retreat’ - Australia’s first breathing wall with 5000 plants is the heart – and literally lungs – of the office - Diverse spaces include ‘working walls’ for visual communications and ‘pods’ for quiet work

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MEDIBANK PLACE, MELBOURNE

DESIGN FOR BETTER HEALTH MEDIBANK IS IN THE BUSINESS OF PROMOTING BETTER HEALTH FOR EVERYONE. AND THIS IS THE ASPIRATION THAT DROVE AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST HEALTH INSURER TO CREATE ONE OF THE HEALTHIEST WORKPLACES IN THE WORLD. Photography by Earl Carter, Peter Bennetts

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he new workplace was part of a major cultural change program for Australia’s largest health insurer to live its purpose to the core and create better health outcomes for its members, employees and the community.

That aspiration drove Medibank to create one of the healthiest workplaces in the world. One that goes beyond conventional Activity Based Working (ABW) to create Health Based Working (HBW) – an approach that places the mental and physical health of people at its heart.

An adaptable workplace that’s ‘hard-wired for health’ Medibank employees now have real freedom to choose how and where they work. With laptops and mobile phones in hand, staff can select from more than 26 types of work settings – from indoor quiet spaces to collaborative hubs to wifi-enabled balconies.

The building itself has been described as being ‘hard-wired for health’. That’s apparent across the site, from the multi-purpose sports court at ground level to the edible garden and demonstration kitchen promoting healthy eating to staff, not-for-profits and the wider community.

Immediately iconic wide, snaking staircases allow for incidental meetings and social interactions between Medibank’s staff and visitors.

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MEDIBANK PLACE, MELBOURNE

A ‘living, breathing building’ transforms its surrounds Both the building and the workplace incorporate thousands of plants. This helps relieve stress, improves internal air quality and transforms views from grey to green.

With around 10 percent of the building’s exterior covered by native Australian plants, Medibank Place also provides welcome relief within its heavily concreted urban surrounds.

Four months after moving in, 79% of employees report working more collaboratively, 70% report feeling healthier, and 66% said they are more productive.

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Intense collaboration creates layers of character and meaning A highly collaborative design process meant architects and landscape architects contributed to the workplace interiors, interior designers and architects to the park and all three disciplines to the base building design.

Staff can select from more than 26 types of work settings, from casual and social to focused and private.

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MEDIBANK PLACE, MELBOURNE 074 Hard-wired for health: the entire Medibank precinct provides staff and the public with a space for solitude and rejuvenation.

Hassell also invited three very different design firms – Chris Connell Design, Kerry Phelan Design Office and Russell and George – to collaborate on the design for the plaza level in the middle of the tower. These created layers of character and meaning to inspire people to connect in new ways.

More than just a building, Medibank Place is a new gateway to the Docklands precinct. It succeeds in ‘giving something back’, establishing a welcoming public precinct at ground level with a timber amphitheatre, cafes, shops and a public park.

Design highlights - A main-entrance ramp spirals upwards from street level to give employees easy access to bike storage on their way in to work.

- Circadian lighting in parts of the workplace mimics natural daylight patterns, supporting people’s biorhythms.

- There are 2,300 plants inside and 520 in modular planter boxes on the façade, as well as two 25-metre high street-facing green walls.

- The exterior planting – combined with the curves of the building itself – creates a softer, more human character.

- The facade is tactile and unpredictable – a stark contrast to the solid and impenetrable nature of many city towers.

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MORNINGSTAR WORKPLACE, SYDNEY

COLLABORATING THROUGH ACTIVITY-BASED WORKING THIS GLOBAL FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY WANTED TO INTRODUCE THEIR SYDNEY EMPLOYEES TO MORE AGILE WAYS OF WORKING – INCREASING CONNECTIVITY AND COLLABORATION AND SETTING AN EXAMPLE FOR THEIR OTHER INTERNATIONAL LOCATIONS TO FOLLOW.

Photography by Nicole England

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here were a few challenges for Morningstar, including regulations requiring physical separation between some teams to avoid potential conflicts of interest – an obstacle for typical activity-based working configurations.

The Hassell strategy and design teams helped Morningstar overcome these hurdles, tailoring a process that allowed crucial insights to be drawn from their people – and designing solutions such as buffered work zones for groups that needed it.

The concept emerged from the Hassell team’s firsthand observations and experiences while immersed in the Sydney office. They studied the way people worked and interacted, surveyed staff, took them on guided tours of activity-based workplaces and facilitated workshops to form a shared vision.

Understanding those personal experiences helped Hassell design the right kind of flexible, productive workplace for their people and set up the organisation for a smooth transition.

The Hassell strategy and design teams immersed themselves in Morningstar’s Sydney office before developing the concept for the new workspace.

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MORNINGSTAR WORKPLACE, SYDNEY 078 Teams work in small ‘neighbourhoods’ with zones for those who require separation and collaboration spaces in high-traffic areas away from quiet spaces.

Process One of the biggest challenges was debunking myths about activity-based working, which many people equate with ‘hot-desking’. These flexible arrangements can make some employees anxious about losing a sense of ownership and control over their working space.

Careful thinking and planning for the change management process was crucial to the project’s success.

Outcomes The new workplace is the perfect match for Morningstar’s needs and aspirations. Teams now work in small ‘neighbourhoods’, while groups that require separation – due to regulations – have their own zones, buffered by support functions to protect confidentiality.

Collaboration spaces are located in high-traffic, mixed-use areas – close to the action and away from quiet spaces for focused or individual work.

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MORNINGSTAR WORKPLACE, SYDNEY 080 The new environment is helping the company evolve into a more nimble, innovative and tech-based business.

Value A typical post-occupancy evaluation only looks at how spaces are performing. For Morningstar, Hassell took a more holistic approach, exploring aspects beyond space too – like culture and technology.

In the post-move review, Hassell and Morningstar identified ‘quick wins’ for getting further benefits from the workplace, plus medium to long term measures to fine-tune it. Hassell was also able to suggest how to translate lessons from the Sydney experience to Morningstar’s other global sites.

Overall: - The workplace achieved Morningstar’s vision for it, with 74% of employees agreeing or strongly agreeing with the statement ‘I love our current workplace’ - The environment is helping the company evolve into a more nimble, innovative and tech-based business, according to 79% of employees who agree or strongly agree - The new workplace is fostering a community built around knowledge sharing, with 72% agreeing or strongly agreeing

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SIXTY MARTIN PLACE, SYDNEY

HONOURING HERITAGE AND PUBLIC AMENITY YOU CAN’T MISS SIXTY MARTIN PLACE. IT’S ON A PROMINENT CORNER IN SYDNEY’S GLOBAL FINANCIAL HUB, ONE OF THE MOST COVETED SITES IN THE CITY. BUT THE 33-LEVEL TOWER HASN’T LET ITS POSITION GO TO ITS HEAD. JUST THE OPPOSITE. Photography by Mark Syke

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ollowing an international design competition awarded in December 2014 and a four-year construction period by Lendlease, the Hasselldesigned, Investa Commercial Property Fund (ICPF) and Gwynvill Group (Gwynvill) developed, Sixty Martin Place in Sydney is open for business.

Sixty Martin Place incorporates over 40,000 square metres of lettable area over 33 levels, combining an integrated, connected ground plane with details that complement the character and materials of Martin Place and are sympathetic to the adjacent, heritage listed St Stephen’s Uniting Church.

Hassell won the initial competition with a design that reaffirms Martin Place as the civic and business heart of Sydney and maximises views of the Sydney Opera House, Botanic Gardens and the harbour from tenant floors.

A distinct feature of the architecture is the way it frames St Stephen’s Uniting Church – the modular, curving form to the north was sympathetically designed to respect the geometry of the St Stephens spire, providing space around it, linking the traditional architecture of the adjacent site to this new, 21st century building.

The commercial tower spans over 33 levels, offering breath-taking views of Sydney Opera House and harbor.

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SIXTY MARTIN PLACE, SYDNEY 084 Sixty Martin Place’s striking, curved façade carves out space for the heritage-listed St Stephen’s Church next door.

The lower levels of the 33-storey development allows for connection between Martin Place and Macquarie Street and provides public access to indoor and outdoor amenity. The space forms a generous new “civic room” visually connected with the church facade across five levels, whilst allowing people on upper levels to view and engage with events below.

As a ‘Smart Building’, Sixty Martin Place incorporates the latest in emerging building technologies including smart lighting, smart access control for doors, lifts and lockers controlled via smart phones and a custom building services app, personalised for building occupants.

The building is targeting environmental performance ratings only a small number of buildings in the Sydney CBD are able to achieve - including a 6 Star Green Star Design and As-Built Rating a NABERS Energy 5 Star in Operation Rating and a Platinum Shell and Core WELL Rating.

The striking, curved façade offers breathing room to St Stephen’s Church next door, a heritage building typical of this pocket of Sydney. Through a unique cantilever design, the tower’s north face extends out eight metres

above the 1930s-era stone church.

The building also gives back to the ‘neighbourhood’– by carving out generous public space for indoor and outdoor dining, retail and events.

Sixty Martin Place is in tune with the larger landscape too. When you first glimpse the top of the tower from Sydney Harbour, its green terraces blend with the Domain and Royal Botanic Gardens, making it a natural – yet still distinctive – addition to the skyline.

Design highlights - Five-storey glass atrium ‘Civic Room’ - 8-metre cantilever curved wall - Terraces on the podium and upper levels - Views across expansive parklands and through to harbour - State-of-the-art facilities for cyclists, joggers and walkers - Digital overly and building app - High performance: 6-Star Green Star Office, 5-star NABERS and WELLS Platinum ratings (targets)

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SKY CENTRAL, LONDON

BRINGING AGILE WORKING TO LIFE SKY WANTED TO ENCOURAGE THE FLOW OF PEOPLE AND IDEAS AROUND THE BUSINESS, AND TO NOURISH THEIR GREATEST ASSET – EXISTING AND FUTURE TALENT.

Photography by Mark Cocksedge, Hufton + Crow

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esponsible for the workplace design, Hassell worked closely with design partners AL_A, PLP Architecture, Mace and Arup to meet Sky’s aspiration to “create a unique building and activity-based workplace that would be responsive, inspiring, intuitive and amenity-rich – catering to the energetic, fast-paced Sky way of working”.

With each floor averaging 11,500 sqm – the equivalent width of three jumbo jets – the space represents one of the UK’s largest agile workplaces. These generous spaces with room to move are great for Sky – but a challenge for Hassell designers, who needed to create a sense of connection and belonging for Sky’s workforce.

‘Neighbourhoods’ and ‘home zones’ make an expansive space feel familiar Sky looked to Hassell to bring the most progressive, international design thinking to create a ‘game changing’ headquarters which would act as a corporate centre to the expansive Sky Campus, home to 7,500 employees.

Sky Central, a completely new design and build, would bring news production into the heart of the building.

Sky’s inherently collaborative culture - the “Sky way of working” is enhanced by visibility through the floors of the workplace.

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SKY CENTRAL, LONDON 088

To achieve these goals and meet the needs of individual teams, Hassell worked with the client to establish a series of ‘neighbourhoods’ housing around 200 people each. These include a range of individual and team settings – from interactive to focused – to suit every type of activity.

The neighbourhoods are supported by ‘home zones’ – arrival spaces that include small kitchens, meeting tables, and casual sitting areas. These more ‘residential’ settings blur the boundaries between work and home and bring an intimate, human scale to Sky’s expansive workplace.

Key landmarks – including bespoke meeting structures made from metal frames, mesh, coloured ropes and trees placed at 20-metre intervals – help to break down the space even further. These elements, in addition to the extensive planting, help shape quiet areas for individual working, without breaking the sense of connection to the more vibrant, active spaces.

Timber gives the vast space a warm and inviting feel, while the bright colour accents add elements of surprise.

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SKY CENTRAL, LONDON 090 Photography: Mark Cocksedge, Hufton + Crow

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SKY CENTRAL, LONDON 092 Creating a sense of connection through the design was vital for a workplace that spans over 11,500 sqm.

A ‘live lab’ brings agile working to life For Sky Central to succeed, the company had to ensure employees would embrace their new working environment from day one. Sky undertook a significant change management program, which included developing a ‘live lab’ in partnership with Hassell. This precise mock-up of the workplace enabled employees to experience agile working before they made the permanent move.

The pilot was supported by a dedicated website, roadshows, technology training and the advocacy of 160 change leaders within Sky. It’s an approach that has paid off. Since moving in, Sky employees have been exceptionally positive – and vocal – about their new workplace, with many of them taking to social media to share their thoughts using #lifeatsky.

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THE WORK PROJECT ASIA SQUARE, SINGAPORE

CO-WORKING THAT STANDS OUT IN A CITY FULL OF CO-WORKING OPERATORS, IT TAKES A BOLD YET REFINED DESIGN CONCEPT TO STAND OUT.

Photography by EK Yap

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assell has worked on numerous spaces for The Work Project – and each is notably different, rooted in luxury and a unique narrative that speaks to location. For Asia Square, Hassell embraced eclectic influences and styles, as well as a dynamic collaboration with world renowned horticulturalist Patrick Blanc to create a unique and efficient workplace.

Drawing on the surrounding precinct and streetscape as well as the architecture of the building it’s located in, the design is an exploration of the grid, both as a literal interpretation and playful deviation. And the postmodern serves as a reference celebrating unusual materiality and a reinterpretation of classic elements, innovating the use of contrasting textures and materials.

The entry experience is nothing short of memorable through a mirrored living green box, surrounded by a functioning gallery that features a changing roster of artwork, while portals on either side offer tantalising glimpses into an entirely different space beyond. A unique lounge - with a full green wall contrasting the classic furniture, square tiles and an open black cell ceiling surrounds a curved, lacquered red box of meeting spaces.

The Work Project’s spaces are rooted in luxury for Asia Square textures, influences and styles were incorporated into the overall design concept.

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THE WORK PROJECT ASIA SQUARE, SINGAPORE 096 The Singapore-based workplace delights in the unexpected and offers up plenty of surprises for those using the space.

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THE WORK PROJECT ASIA SQUARE, SINGAPORE 098 A variety of work settings allows occupants to choose how they want to take on their day - and offering plenty of opportunities for leisure.

Dedicated closed and open workspaces take up the remainder of the floor, ruled by linearity and broken up by a variety of casual meeting areas. Hassell paired aluminium with robust laminate joinery in primary tones – office standards reinterpreted with creative detailing.

Natural cork flooring adds a sense of warmth that carries throughout, while the heart of the space is without a doubt the fully stocked pantry, expressed with a bolt of electric blue and bright yellow tiles on a terrazzo floor.

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TRANSURBAN WORKPLACE, MELBOURNE

REFLECTING THE DIVERSITY OF CITIES TRANSURBAN BUILDS AND OPERATES TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH IS CRITICAL TO THE GROWTH OF CITIES ACROSS AUSTRALIA AND THE US. THAT CONNECTION TO THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT IS EVIDENT AS SOON AS YOU ENTER ITS MELBOURNE WORKPLACE. Photography by Tom Blachford

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fter having successfully delivered their last workplace in 2015 – two floors in Tower Two of the Collins Square Precinct in Melbourne’s Docklands - Hassell again partnered with Transurban to move them into eight floors of the precincts newly built Tower Five.

Like the cities the company supports, their workplace is stimulating in some spots, and calm in others. Public and multi-connected in certain areas, yet offering isolation and solitude too.

Like a ‘city’ to explore – as soon as you arrive The company’s arrival area on level 31 is functional and down-to-earth. The planked, reflective ceiling and bluestone paving give it a civic quality, similar to an urban plaza.

On arrival, it is immediately evident that technology plays an important role in Transurban’s day-to-day business. Guests are met with impressive floor to ceiling screens, which can display anything from a tranquil underwater scene to any one of Transurban’s busy road networks. Everything the staff does is enhanced by technology, and this is apparent as you move around the workplace.

The dramatically lit, circular void on the entry level connects to a bustling staff hub one level below.

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TRANSURBAN WORKPLACE, MELBOURNE

Freestanding meeting ‘pavilions’ with curved glass walls create winding pathways that encourage visitors and employees to explore the whole floor.

A hard-working space to gather in every day A dramatically lit, circular void on the entry level connects to a bustling staff hub one level below.

With a vaulted timber ceiling, blackened steel railings and more paved floors, the hub is a practical, durable space for both heavy, everyday use and large special events.

Over time, wear and tear will give the surfaces there a distinct patina, only magnifying its ‘lived in’ appeal.

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Voids and portholes break barriers between floors All the typical work floors connect via stairs that punch through generous circular voids. These staggered voids offer dynamic views both vertically and across the floors.

Smaller ‘portholes’ also give surprising glimpses between floors, heightening moments of connection and discovery within the workplace.

Guests are met with impressive floor-to-ceiling screens, displaying everything from recent Transurban projects to an aquarium simulation.

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TRANSURBAN WORKPLACE, MELBOURNE 104 Navy and brown leather accents throughout the workplace add warmth and a sense of luxury to the workplace.

Diversity of work styles to reflect the diversity of our cities A strong community feel is created through collaboration zones. Like popular hangout spots or city squares, these zones are full of people and buzzing with energy. Situated on raised platforms to highlight their importance within the space, the collaboration zones are also the landing space of the cascading stairs that punch through the levels, a deliberate positioning choice to increase interaction between staff and strengthen connections.

Like a city’s parks and gardens, plants throughout the offices balance out the more ‘built-up’ zones. Greenery features in unexpected ways, such as in the striking clusters of hanging pots or trees nestled in circular beds cut into the floors.

Transurban’s workplace represents a distinct shift away from more traditional corporate design toward a space with an authentic and tangible connection to the company’s purpose and place in society.

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OFFICE CONCEPT WORKPLACE SOLUTIONS 108

FITTING INTERIORS DISCOVER THE RIGHT FIT & BALANCE WITH CAREFUL MATERIAL SELECTION

DECIBEL 43 by Bristol

HAWORTH | OFFICE SEATING BUZZISPACE | ACOUSTIC LIGHTING KÖNIG + NEURATH | SWIVEL CHAIR CARPETS INTER | CARPET TILE A. & H.MEYER | CABLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM BRISTOL | WORKPLACE FURNITURE ZENPRO | OPEN-PLAN SOLUTION OASIS | WORKSTATION SYSTEM

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ACTIVE VERSATILITY NIA’S BEST QUALITIES ARE REMARKABLY OBVIOUS – INTUITIVE COMFORT AND MINIMAL AESTHETICS ARE COMBINED INTO AN ELEGANT WORK CHAIR THAT PROMOTES ACTIVE SEATING IN AN AGILE WORKSPACE.

THIS PHOTO: Designed to support activity during the workday, Nia offers the rich comfort of a lounge chair with the precise engineering of a performance task chair.

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ake a seat and brainstorm away. Sit down and get things done uninterrupted. Whether it’s group work or focused tasks, Nia supports a variety of activities in today’s agile work environment. Designed by Brodbeck Design and Haworth Design Studio, Nia is the first of its kind to advocate active seating in the modern workplace. “It’s a chair that offers freedom as wanted, support as needed,” says the brand.

Featuring intuitive comfort and minimal controls, Nia is more than just an office chair as it offers the plush comfort of lounge seats while incorporating the precise engineering of a performance task chair. Comfort, performance and aesthetics are all combined into a single minimalist seating piece that sets Nia apart from its conventional counterparts. In fact, extensive testing has been carried out to show that this chair provides outstanding comfort however you sit in it.

Sleek with a slim profile, Nia conceals its smart weight activated mechanism within its upholstered form. Users do not need to keep adjusting the chair as it intuitively supports a wide variety of postures while fitting into different work settings. From meeting/conference rooms, focus work areas and collaboration zones, Nia easily adapts to any seating scenarios.

Nia comes in two different versions: high back and mid back. Its upholstered seat and back are customizable with a wide variety of colours and fabrics to choose from. To cater to specific settings, chairs without back mechanism and without armrests are also available.

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HAWORTH.COM/AP/NIA

LEFT: Nia’s slim design hides a smart weight activated mechanism that provides remarkable comfort however you sit in it.

TOP RIGHT: Nia offers a solution for many different work settings, from meeting/ conference rooms, focus work areas and collaboration zones.

SLEEK WITH A SLIM PROFILE, NIA CONCEALS ITS SMART WEIGHT ACTIVATED MECHANISM WITHIN ITS UPHOLSTERED FORM. USERS DO NOT NEED TO KEEP ADJUSTING THE CHAIR AS IT INTUITIVELY SUPPORTS A WIDE VARIETY OF POSTURES WHILE FITTING INTO DIFFERENT WORK SETTINGS.

TOP: Nia features intuitive controls that effortlessly adjust to users’ different sitting postures no matter how they are seated.

BOTTOM LEFT: A variety of fabric and colour choices are available for the upholstered seat and back to compliment specific interior themes.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Nia’s slim armrests feature a smooth contour that gracefully joins with the chair’s frame, resulting in a minimalist outlook.

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SOUND OF LIGHT WITH ITS MAJESTIC APPEARANCE, THE BUZZIJET STANDING FLOOR LAMP ENSURES COLLABORATIVE WORKSPACES ARE BOTH OPTIMALLY LIT AND ACOUSTICALLY COMFORTABLE.

THIS PHOTO: Like the successful and iconic BuzziJet pendant lamp, BuzziJet Standing also features superior acoustics, designed with happy, healthy workspaces in mind.

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LIKE ITS PREDECESSOR, BUZZIJET STANDING IS DESIGNED BASED ON THE PRINCIPLES OF GEOMETRIC ACOUSTICS. APPEARANCE-WISE, BUZZIJET STANDING IS A SIMPLE AND MINIMALIST-LOOKING SOUND-ABSORBING FLOOR LAMP WHICH FITS INTO ALMOST ANY WORKSPACE INSTANTLY.

THIS PHOTO: Wide in diameter, BuzziJet Standing’s sleek aerodynamic design offers excellent sound-absorbing capabilities, delivering acoustic comfort paired with a powerful light output.

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hen it gets too noisy and distracting to carry out discussions or focus on your tasks in an open office environment, it’s high time proper acoustic solutions are considered. However, if large scale acoustic products are out of the question, sound absorbing light fixtures like the BuzziJet Standing floor lamp would prove to be an excellent – and stylish, solution.

Following the success of the iconic BuzziJet pendant lamp, BuzziJet Standing is the latest lighting piece to grace BuzziSpace’s innovative collection of acoustic lighting, offering users a wider selection of acoustic solutions in the form of contemporary lighting.

Like its predecessor, BuzziJet Standing is designed based on the principles of geometric acoustics.

Appearance-wise, BuzziJet Standing is a simple and minimalist-looking sound-absorbing floor lamp which fits into almost any workspace instantly.

But there’s more to it than meets the eye. The brand

explains further: “Wide in diameter, BuzziJet Standing’s aerodynamic design allows sound waves to bounce back-and-forth within its circular body, which in turn reduces noise while emitting warm ambiance from above with its tall, elegantly curved frame. With its high-density acoustic material, this solution works on the whole audible spectrum, from low to mid and high tones.”

Perfect for a variety of spaces, BuzziJet Standing is a high-performance lamp which conceals a powerful light source within its circular frame. When it is turned on, the lamp exudes a soft and regal presence, inspiring a sense of serenity. While it is larger than your regular floor lamp, this light fixture is lightweight and airy in form – thanks to its upholstered foam core. To meet different specifications, the lamp can be customized via a wide variety of upholstery fabrics.

BUZZI.SPACE

ABOVE: Within its body, BuzziJet Standing conceals a powerful light source that emits warm, pleasant light when turned on, evoking a serene atmosphere.

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KÖNIG + NEURATH

RHYTHMIC REVOLUTION

118

SWIVEL CHAIR

DESIGNED WITH BOUNCE BANDS THAT INTUITIVELY FOLLOW YOUR MOVEMENTS, THIS IS A CHAIR YOU CAN LEAN ON FOR OPTIMUM SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE EBBS AND FLOW OF YOUR WORKDAY.

THIS PHOTO: The OKAY.III swivel chair is designed to complement changing dynamics and different work styles in the workplace while ensuring flexibility and mobility.

KÖNIG + NEURATH SWIVEL CHAIR 120

“THE BASIS OF OUR OKAY.III CHAIR IS ITS PLAYFUL AUTOMATIC RESPONSE: ALL THE USERS WE OBSERVED IN TESTS LEANT BACK MORE OFTEN AS SOON AS THEY SAT DOWN. THEY WERE CLEARLY HAVING FUN BOUNCING AROUND AND KEEPING ON THE MOVE. FOR ME, THE ATTRACTION OF THIS CHAIR LIES IN ITS UNIQUE DESIGN, AS WELL AS THE FLEXIBILITY OF THE BOUNCE BANDS.” Stefan Oelze, Sales Director Seating, König + Neurath

TOP: OKAY.III features ergonomic proportions, an attractive minimalist shape and a highperformance mechanism to support individual working rhythms.

BOTTOM RIGHT: OKAY.III’s VSP® synchro mechanism allows a harmonious movement sequence when sitting while the adjustable lumbar provides optimum pressure distribution.

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hether you are sitting in a relaxed manner or in a dynamic seated position, the OKAY.III swivel chair by König + Neurath has literally got your back. Designed to complement different work styles or “work rhythms” in multifunctional workspaces, the chair comes equipped with exceptional features that support different movement sequences in any seated positions.

Minimalist in appearance, the standout feature of OKAY.III is the chair’s characteristic backrest which comes with bounce bands tensioned across its knitted mesh to offer a unique sitting experience. As soon as you sit down, you can lean against the backrest and drop back almost weightlessly. The chair intuitively stabilises itself to match your posture, ergonomically supporting your back while ensuring mobility.

“The basis of our OKAY.III chair is its playful automatic response: all the users we observed in tests leant back

more often as soon as they sat down. They were clearly having fun bouncing around and keeping on the move.

For me, the attraction of this chair lies in its unique design, as well as the flexibility of the bounce bands,” says Stefan Oelze, Sales Director Seating at König + Neurath.

A high performing swivel chair in every way, OKAY.III is employs the proven VSP® (Virtual Swing Point) synchro mechanism which ensures a harmonious movement sequence when sitting in different positions. The chair also incorporates an adjustable lumbar support – an updated version of the OKAY.III model, to support optimum pressure distribution and improve sitting comfort. Seat height, depth and tilt can also be adjusted intuitively using the chair’s straightforward controls.

KOENIG-NEURATH.DE

TOP: The characteristic bounce bands of OKAY. III come in a choice of three colours and are tensioned across the knitted mesh backrest to give the chair a unique sitting feel.

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CARPETS INTER

THE PATH TO ONE BILLION

122

CARPET TILE - ECOSOFT®

CARPETS INTER ECOSOFT® RECENTLY ENTERED AND BEAT OVER 35 ENTRANTS TO WIN 1ST PRIZE IN THE ‘WASTE ELIMINATION’ CATEGORY OF AUSTRALIA’S ‘ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN’ 2019 SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS, AN AWARD VOTED BY LEADING AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTS AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS.

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CARPET TILE - ECOSOFT®

Richard Morris, Global Business Director, Carpets Inter

Q: WHAT’S YOUR ROLE AND WHAT LED YOU INTO THE WORLD OF SUSTAINABILITY AND CARPETS? A: My life-long career in the carpet manufacturing industry began on February 22 1982. I’ve spent the last 30 years working in Asia in product development, sales and distribution for a range of leading international and Asian carpet manufacturing businesses. My core focus has been managing high-end hospitality projects, where the technical performance criteria always take precedence over design aesthetics.

In mid-2016 I came to Carpets Inter in Bangkok to resurrect the organisation’s ‘Corporate Division’ of modular carpet tiles.

It’s been an amazing journey, one that is still very much ongoing with continued product innovation.

Q: HOW DOES CARPETS INTER PUSH SUSTAINABILITY AND INNOVATION? A: Innovation is a primary principle to staying ahead of the competition. If you become complacent, you’ll just become a follower competing on price at the lower end of the market. At Carpets Inter we’re constantly engineering viable product solutions and design-driven collections in response to what our customers demand to stay ahead.

One such initiative that we’re really proud of is our proprietary EcoSoft® Felt cushion backing. This is made with over 50 recycled PET Bottles per square metre, which is adhered as a single installation flooring solution.

The product is saving our planets eco-systems by assisting to divert discarded plastic bottles away from landfill, or worse ending up in our oceans and killing marine life.

Q: HOW IS CARPETS INTER PUSHING AND CONTRIBUTING TO SUSTAINABILITY AGENDAS? A: We’re the most diversified manufacturer and distributor of a comprehensive range of carpet types made from various types of natural and synthetic yarn fibres. Within our sustainability principles we strive to achieve John Elkington’s 3p Principle for Sustainable Development – Profit, People, Planet.

Some other amazing figures that the organisation has achieved include a 44 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions since 1999, we’re on track to have a zero water effluent discharge by 2021 and we’ve been zero landfill since 2009. Our Bi Product is primarily used for two major environmental purposes. The sediment from our used water treatment plant is converted into Organic Fertilizer for domestic agriculture in growing rice crop and the planting of trees for CO2 offsets. Our modular offcuts are used as bio-fuel in kilns by the main Cement factory providing product to the urban development of Thailand.

Q: WHAT MAKES CARPETS INTER DIFFERENT TO OTHER COMPANIES THAT OFFER FLOORING PRODUCTS? A: In a word ‘diversity’. Our vertically integrated manufacturing processes extend to all types of carpet manufacturing, including handmade, woven, machine tufted and needle punched. Because of this, we’re able to process and prepare all major high-performance fibres.

Our DNA has always been about being custom-made, so our in-house R&D and design teams are extremely innovative, evolving with the everchanging dynamic of

“TO DATE WE HAVE RECYCLED OVER 746,000,000 DISCARDED PLASTIC DRINKING WATER BOTTLES AND THIS YEAR, CARPETS INTER IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE A NEW PHASE IN ITS MULTI-YEAR SUSTAINABILITY CAMPAIGN. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE LAUNCH OF OUR LATEST ECOSOFT® BACKED MODULAR CARPET TILE COLLECTION UPSTREAM EBB-WASH, WE WILL CONTINUE TO DONATE A PORTION OF SALES REVENUE TO SUPPORT THE VISIONARY NON-PROFIT ORGANISATION THE OCEAN CLEAN UP.” Richard Morris, Global Business Director, Carpets Inter

the market demand. Our size allows us the flexibility to take onboard feedback and engineer ‘fit-for-purpose’ hybrid products that are affordable, providing the best ROI to the consumer.

Add to this that all products are tested to meet the highest internationally recognised performance and sustainable standards and that we are one of the most qualified in the industry for environmental and sustainable achievements.

Q: BY 2025, CARPETS INTER WILL RECYCLE OVER 1,000,000,000 DISCARDED PLASTIC BOTTLES. HOW ARE YOU PROCEEDING WITH THIS GOAL? A: To date we have recycled over 746,000,000 discarded plastic drinking water bottles and this year, Carpets Inter is proud to announce a new phase in its multi-year sustainability campaign. In conjunction with the launch of our latest Ecosoft® backed modular carpet tile collection Upstream EBB-Wash, we will continue to donate a portion of sales revenue to support the visionary non-profit organisation The Ocean Clean Up. The mission of The Ocean Clean Up is to rid the world’s oceans of nearly nine million tons of plastic accumulation each year through its passive collection method that harnesses the natural flow of earth’s sea currents. The Ocean Clean-up Organization have recently invented their revolutionary ‘Interceptor’ vessel to capture plastic waste as it enters major river Estuaries, whereupon one was recently put into service here in Thailand, being one of the major polluters of plastic bottles entering the Ocean.

Supporting The Ocean Clean up is the logical next step in our larger goal to reduce our carbon footprint in every facet of our global business, where we are leading the way for our industry in recycling and sustainable practices. A central part of this initiative is to have recycled

and upcycled-backing types as a mainstay of commercial carpet tiles in both established and developing markets.

It’s not just good for our business, it’s good for humanity!

Among the plastic debris responsible for the deaths of millions of marine animals each year, plastic bottles pose a particular threat as nearly a million are bought or sold around the world every minute. Our broad mission is to create high-quality modular carpet products that enhance people’s lives. Because backing made from upcycled PET plastic bottles is such an integral part of our product, the Carpets Inter brand has a natural affinity with ongoing efforts to reduce the amount of plastic polluting our oceans. The Ocean Clean up is an innovator in this initiative, as we strive to be an innovator in ours.

EcoSoft® is without doubt the best modular carpet tile backing in the industry today and provides increased durability, underfoot comfort, acoustical propensity, improved insulation to cut energy bills and better indoor air quality. Made from 80 per cent post-consumer material reengineered from millions of discarded plastic drinking water bottles, plus five to 10 per cent post-industrial recycled PET, this environmentally-friendly backing not only meets all the stringent performance criteria required for carpet tile, but consistently outperforms conventional PVC and bitumen hard back, as well as urethane cushion back.

We are more than confident that we will reach our target to recycle over one billion plastic bottles by 2025.

We see ourselves as more than just a carpet manufacturer, we are a protector of our planet’s well-being. We take a leadership position in our industry as a good global citizen, dedicated to making a positive environmental, social, and economic impact around the world wherever our carpet is put to use.

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CARPETS INTER 126

CARPET TILE - ECOSOFT®

ECOSOFT® IS MADE FROM MILLIONS OF FINE PET FIBERS INTERLOCKED TOGETHER IN A NEEDLING PROCESS TO FORM A COMPRESSED FELT. THE FELT ACTS AS A SOUND ABSORPTION HAVING EXCELLENT ACOUSTICAL PROPERTIES. THESE NOISE REDUCING PROPERTIES, DRASTICALLY IMPROVE ACOUSTICS IN THE WORKPLACE, OFF-SETTING THE HIGHER COST OF CEILING, WALL OF DOUBLE GLAZED ACOUSTICAL MATERIALS.

THIS PHOTO: EBB-Wash is created to highlight how Carpets Inter is succeeding in preventing plastic waste from polluting our oceans.

ECOSOFT FEATURES Thermal Insulation Heating and cooling commercial buildings is expensive.

Products that contribute thermal resistance can considerable reduce energy costs. EcoSoft® will keep the warmth in heated buildings in winter, and the cool air-conditioned air inside buildings in summer. Tests show that Ecosoft® outperforms hard back tile by more than 150% for thermal effectiveness.

Wet-Slab Installation and Moisture Transmission Changes in carpet tile adhesives, building schedules, and floor preparation processes have contributed to an increase in flooring installation failures, and in some cases the release of potentially harmful Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) into the indoor air environment.

Moisture build-up under non-porous flooring like vinyl sheet, hard backed carpet tiles, and fixed timber floors, expose adhesives and tile backings to high pH levels; this is from alkalines within the concrete, concentrating in surface moisture that is unable to escape. This results in chemical breakdown of the adhesive and the release of potentially harmful VOC’s. The porous characteristics of EcoSoft® carpet tile backing allows moisture within the slab to release (dry out), thus eliminating the risk of VOC build-up and adhesive failure from alkaline hydrolysis.

The moisture vapor transmission rate for EcoSoft® backing is 39 times better than a hard back tile.

Lightweight Benefit Transporting materials from manufacturing facilities to project sites involves various modes of transport, all of which leave a carbon footprint. The lighter weight EcoSoft® product requires less energy to transport, thus achieves a higher LEED point rating due to lower carbon footprint. EcoSoft® backed carpet tiles weigh 38% less than an equivalent hard back carpet tile. This considerably reduces OH&S risk of site labor and installation.

TOP LEFT: EBB-Wash is a dynamic organic pattern that will accentuate any interior floor space.

Excellent Sound Absorption EcoSoft® is made from millions of fine PET fibers interlocked together in a needling process to form a compressed felt. The felt acts as a sound absorption having excellent acoustical properties. These noise reducing properties, drastically improve acoustics in the workplace, off-setting the higher cost of ceiling, wall of double glazed acoustical materials. Surveys have shown that traceable sources of noise negatively affect human health creating stress and other problems. One of the most effective way of controlling noise levels is to suppress noise by using flooring with sound absorption properties such as EcoSoft® backed modular carpet.

Performance Enhancement EcoSoft® is a designed and engineered to absorb destructive impact from high foot traffic. Its superior compression and recovery properties significantly reduce fiber crush and wear-and-tear, giving the carpet a better appearance retention compared with any hard backing, so enabling the carpet to retain its good looks for longer.

Luxurious Walking Comfort EcoSoft® is a cushion backing that effectively absorbs foot impact, and as a result reduces leg muscle fatigue to a greater degree as compared to any hard flooring.

Comfort under foot translates to higher overall productivity in the workplace.

Each one square meter of EcoSoft tile containing roughly 50 x 550 ml. recycled PET bottles. We will recycle over 1,000,000,000 discarded plastic bottles by 2025.

CARPETSINTER.COM

TOP RIGHT: Four different colors can be used as coordinates to enhance the interior environment.

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A. & H.MEYER CABLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM 128

POWER UNDERCOVER WITH THE BUILT-IN DEPT OF 43MM – THE LOWEST IN THE MARKET, NETSYSTEM FLOOR BOX P AND FLOOR BOX PD FIT IMPECCABLY UNDERFLOOR, PROVIDING A SLEEK POWER SOLUTION FOR HIGHER EFFICIENCY IN THE WORKPLACE.

THIS PHOTO: NETSYSTEM Floor Box P and Floor Box PD blend seamlessly with flooring – thanks to their low installation depth of 43mm, the lowest in the market.

A. & H.MEYER CABLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM 130 TOP: Featuring a sleek low profile that can be recessed neatly into screed flooring, these floor boxes are ideal for open space and designed to efficiently distribute power, data and multimedia services in the floor where cable trunking is mounted.

BOTTOM LEFT: Ideal for open spaces, Floor Box P features 4 power outputs with direct access of data or multimedia cables for seamless distribution of power and data.

BOTTOM RIGHT: For higher efficiency and more convenience in the workspace, Floor Box PD offers 2 power outputs with up to 8 data or multimedia modules to cater specific requirements.

IDEAL FOR OPEN SPACES, THESE FLOOR BOXES ARE DESIGNED TO EFFICIENTLY DISTRIBUTE POWER, DATA AND MULTIMEDIA SERVICES IN THE FLOOR WHERE CABLE TRUNKING IS MOUNTED. THIS MEANS, UNSIGHTLY CABLES CAN NOW STAY CONCEALED UNDER THE FLOOR, ENSURING A CLEANER INTERIOR APPEARANCE WHILE LIMITING TRIPPING HAZARDS.

S

tylish design meets seamless power with the NETSYSTEM Floor Box P and Floor Box PD, offering unsurpassed convenience and accessibility when it comes to underfloor power solutions. Aesthetically pleasing yet spatially efficient, these floor boxes are designed with a low installation depth of only 43mm – the lowest in the market to date, which makes them blend seamlessly with up to 50mm thick screed layers on a building’s concrete floor.

Ideal for open spaces, these floor boxes are designed to efficiently distribute power, data and multimedia services in the floor where cable trunking is mounted.

This means, unsightly cables can now stay concealed under the floor, ensuring a cleaner interior appearance while limiting tripping hazards. Other small but thoughtful details are incorporated to offer even more convenience to the user. The floor box’s lid comes with a special locking device ensuring that the unit can always be kept shut and flush. It provides also flaps fitted with foam which

TOP: Designed as an underfloor power solution, these nifty floor boxes efficiently distribute power, data and multimedia services in the floor where cable trunking is mounted.

allow cables to seamlessly run through them. Additionally, there are also individual height adjustable screws to level the frame with the floor. All plastic materials used are fire retardant.

Floor Box PD offers 2 power outputs with 8 data and multimedia modules while Floor Box P comes with 4 power outputs with direct cable access for data or multimedia. The Floor Boxes also come with patented design, PI 2016701277, in accordance with stringent quality regulation. Offering direct access to power, data and multimedia, both models feature high performance power output via Wieland GST 18/3 connectors with the option of RAW or UPS power. Other termination options for multimedia connections such as HDMI, USB, etc are available upon request.

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BOTTOM: The floor box’s lid comes equipped with a special locking device ensuring that the unit can always be kept shut andflush while flaps are fitted with foam which allow cables to seamlessly run through them.

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BRISTOL

COLLECTIVE PRODUCTIVITY

132

WORKPLACE FURNITURE

DESIGNED TO OPTIMIZE THE WORKPLACE, MYKO AND DECIBEL 43 CALL POD OFFER EMPLOYEES MULTIPLE SEATING AND SPATIAL OPTIONS TO CARRY OUT THEIR TASKS IN A MANNER THAT IS MOST CONDUCIVE FOR THEM.

THIS PHOTO: Myko is designed to be a distinctive, versatile and highly mobile multi-purpose chair that can blend into a variety of spaces.

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MULTI-PURPOSE CHAIR

BRISTOL

DISTINCTIVE YET VERSATILE AND MOBILE, MYKO IS METICULOUSLY CRAFTED TO WORK HARMONIOUSLY IN DIFFERENT SEATING CONFIGURATIONS. AS A CHAIR FOR FORMAL SPACES, THE CHAIR EXUDES AN AIR OF SOPHISTICATION WITH ITS ELEGANT SILHOUETTE WHILE KEEPING TO OPTIMAL ERGONOMIC AND ANTHROPOMETRIC STANDARDS.

THIS PHOTO: Myko excels as a practical yet sophisticated chair for formal and informal spaces, thanks to its elegant silhouette and lightweight frame.

M

ore than just a utilitarian space to get things done, today’s work environment is defined by how employees work and the dynamic use of different spaces. Private and open office spaces are also expanding to include more formal and informal collaborative workspaces as a way to boost morale and productivity. In line with these evolving work trends, Bristol’s Myko chair and Decibel 43 Call Pod are designed to address these needs with the aim to create higher synergy between teams in the workplace.

Based on the ideology of a streamlined multi-purpose chair, the highly attractive Myko chair offers more than good looks to complement office spaces. Distinctive yet versatile and mobile, this chair is meticulously crafted to work harmoniously in different seating configurations.

As a chair for formal spaces, the chair exudes an air of sophistication with its elegant silhouette while keeping to optimal ergonomic and anthropometric standards.

When Myko is placed in more casual environments, it can easily adapt to different spatial requirements when the need arises. With a lightweight frame that does away with non-essential mechanical parts, adjustments to the chair is quick and easy, which makes it an ideal seating option for other purposes beyond corporate offices, for instance hospitality, retail, hospitals, schools and recreational spaces.

TOP: The Myko chair features a minimalist aesthetic, which means it be paired seamlessly with other office furnishing to create a stylish setting.

BOTTOM: As a chair for informal spaces, Myko’s optimal ergonomic and anthropometric features ensure ultimate comfort and ease in break rooms, pantries or chill-out areas.

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BRISTOL ACOUSTIC POD

CREATED FOR INDIVIDUALS TO DO FOCUSED WORK OR MAKE CALLS IN PRIVATE, THE DECIBEL 43 CALL POD INCORPORATES A WORK TOP, INTERNAL LIGHTING AND VENTILATION SYSTEM AS WELL AS USB PORTS AND PLUG SOCKETS FOR PLUGGING IN DEVICES.

While workplaces benefit from open spaces that encourage human interaction between employees, it does come with the issue of noise and distraction. Bristol addresses this concern with the innovative Decibel 43 Call Pod, a versatile and acoustically balanced private enclosure that seamlessly blends into open office spaces.

“This system was designed with architects and space planners in mind, to offer them the flexibility to plan large open spaces with acoustic privacy and the tools to personalise the system, so that their project could have its own unique look,” Bristol says. “It is designed to work together individually and collectively to create practical spatial concepts for group collaboration and individual privacy to optimise your office’s productivity and creativity.”

Created for individuals to do focused work or make calls in private, the Decibel 43 Call Pod incorporates a work top, internal lighting and ventilation system as well as USB ports and plug sockets for plugging in devices.

Fitting one person at a time, the interior of the call pod is upholstered in fabric for a cosy experience. A glass door is also used to maintain visual connection to the outside, so that users won’t feel completely isolated from the surrounding office environment.

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BRISTOL.COM.MY

TOP: A versatile addition for the workplace, the exterior of Decibel 43 Call Pod is made to be personalised with different colour fabrics and wood finishes to select from.

BOTTOM: Ideal for open plan offices, the space-saving Decibel 43 Call Pod is created for quiet, focused work or private calls and teleconferences.

THIS PHOTO: The Decibel 43 Call Pod also includes a work top, internal lighting and ventilation system as well as USB ports and plug sockets.

OFFICECONCEPTDESIGN.COM

ZENPRO

PROGRESS IN PRIVATE

138

OPEN-PLAN SOLUTION

WHETHER IT’S FOR WORKING ALONE OR SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS, THE VIS-A-VIS SERIES IS A MUCH-NEEDED SANCTUARY IN THE OFFICE WHEN EMPLOYEES NEED TO GET IN THE ZONE, QUIETLY AND PRIVATELY.

THIS PICTURE: With a host of thoughtful features geared at enhancing employee’s productivity, the vis-a-vis collection offers an ideal space-efficient solution to complement open-plan offices.

ZENPRO OPEN-PLAN SOLUTION 140 THIS PHOTO: Built to comfortably accommodate up to four people, the Vis-a-vis X booth provides employees with an immediate focus-space for discussion without major renovation.

FOR THOSE WHO WANT FLY SOLO, THE VIS-A-VIS PHONEBOOTH GIVES USERS AN EVEN MORE PRIVATE PLACE TO SERIOUSLY FOCUS ON IMPORTANT WORK OR TELECONFERENCES. THIS SOUNDPROOF BOOTH IS DESIGNED WITH ALL THE KEY FEATURES TO SHIELD OFF UNWANTED VISUAL AND NOISE DISTRACTIONS WITHOUT COMPROMISING COMFORT AND STYLE.

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t work, the sound of busy but happy employees is bliss to the ears – it is a boost to morale. But not all types of sounds are welcomed. Noisy conversations and distracting quirks from the people you work with can be a bane to a productive workday. In times like these, quieter spaces are desperately needed.

This was how the Vis-a-vis collection from ZenPro is conceived and to date, the series has grown to include three types of all-in-one freestanding booths: Vis-a-vis X, vis-a-vis Phonebooth and vis-a-vis Cove which serve as the absolute complement to open-plan offices.

A 2018 study by Rapal found that most large meeting rooms are underutilized - they are either used by a minimal number of people than intended or used for other trivial matters. Vis-a-vis X provides a more spaceefficient solution by offering a small but cosy enclosure for discussions. Built for two to four people, this “focus space” is designed as an immediate place for impromptu meetings anywhere in the office without the need for major renovation. Featuring acoustic-insulative materials and fully equipped with teleconferencing and other digital devices, this space is also ideal for carrying out confidential Vis-a-vis or concentrate on doing your most important tasks alone.

While there are times when teamwork is a blessing,

MIDDLE LEFT: The Vis-a-vis Cove booth is a modular range with customizable screen heights and sizes fitted with furnishings and power outlets for comfort and convenience.

there are other times when more is not the merrier. For those who want fly solo, the Vis-a-vis Phonebooth gives users an even more private place to seriously focus on important work or teleconferences. This soundproof booth is designed with all the key features to shield off unwanted visual and noise distractions without compromising comfort and style. Inside, the booth is fully furnished with automatic lighting, ventilation, plug and play built-ins as well as ergonomic seating. Outside, the exterior of the booth features a sleek and versatile design that blends in with other office furniture.

Modern workspaces would also benefit significantly from the Vis-a-vis Cove work booths which functions as a room-in-a room space. High screens on the booth help cut off distracting sights and also minimize noise. The booth is also modular which allows it to be customized into a solo pod, double discussion pod or a meeting pod for more than two people. Designed for total convenience, the booth is fitted with furnishings and power outlets along with optional add-ons like a magnetic whiteboard, pin, tablet holder or monitor arms.

ZENPRO.COM.MY

MIDDLE RIGHT: For open spaces, height adjustable tables create a more dynamic work environment with multiple work zones to choose from.

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OASIS FURNITURE WORKSTATION SYSTEM 142

WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES FROM AN OPEN MEETING SPACE TO PERSONAL WORKSPACES, COLLECTION B SUPPORTS DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES WITH ITS INNOVATIVE RANGE OF EXTENSIONS.

THIS PHOTO: Highly adaptable and flexible, Collection B is a simple yet innovative workspace solution for open plan offices.

OASIS FURNITURE WORKSTATION SYSTEM 144 TOP LEFT: A rise-up box can be added to the workstation to create a more comfortable and ergonomic workspace.

TOP RIGHT: The tabletop can also be fitted with an acoustic tackable screen to reduce distraction from the surroundings.

BOTTOM: Collection B also features convenient power support like power points and USB ports for users’ convenience.

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n this age of technology, the new office landscape is dynamic where a myriad of activities and requirements emerges throughout the day to cater to different purposes. Highly adaptable and exceptionally flexible, Oasis’ Collection B provides a simple yet effective workspace solution to accommodate a variety of workstyles in open plan offices.

Designed by Oasis Design Lab, Collection B features a series of individual workstations and versatile furnishing elements innovated for interactive spaces including breakout zones and meeting areas. Whether you need an open meeting space or a quiet area for focused work, Collection B can be easily configured to suit different users’ needs via a selection of extensions from cabinets to tabletops and lights options.

Space-saving and multi-purpose, workstations can be equipped with acoustic tackable screens to reduce distraction and a rise-up box for ergonomic working along with S-cabinets for employees to store their personal belongings. The design also incorporates

convenient power support like power points and USB ports, which together with the extensions, contribute to a more comfortable and conducive work environment.

As Collection B comes with flexible components, workstations can be configured to form a cluster of workspaces or a discussion zone. For information sharing in a group, Collection B’s easy multimedia integration are designed support TV display while cables are integrated into the panel for a sleeker look.

With strong construction and smart configuration, Collection B is a high-performance workspace solution that is also easy to install. Specifications are kept simple, enabling a wide variety of arrangements to fit diverse office interior themes. Appearance-wise, this collection exudes a clean and minimalist aesthetic which complements contemporary workspaces immaculately.

OASIS.COM.MY

TOP: With different types of extensions available, Collection B can be easily configured to serve as a meeting space.

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ODE TO ART

Beatles Forever

SPOTLIGHT

Mona Lisa

Audrey Hepburn

Albert Einstein

IMPRESSIONS OF THE MULTITUDE

146

B

orn in 1974 in Indonesia, Syaiful Rachman received his training at the Institute of Arts in Yogyakarta. His captivating paintings feature nuanced brushstrokes which give his works depth and imbue them with emotion, by emphasizing vibrant colours and shadows.

Prominent figures including Albert Einstein, Andy Warhol and Marilyn Monroe recur as subjects, yet upon closer observation, his portraits are revealed to be composed of hundreds of minuscule figures.

Syaiful Rachman’s fascination with celebrities derives from his conviction that they are the amalgamation of various aspects - persona, popularity and power, all of which manifest in every human. However, the artist simultaneously demonstrates his appreciation for ordinary individuals through the incorporation of this anonymous crowd. He reminds us that amidst our glorification of high-profile figures, we easily forget that it is in fact the power of our favour, that of the masses, which holds them aloft. Through this, Syaiful Rachman leads us to the realisation of the diverse distribution of power between all factions of society.

While many may regard mainstream culture and mass media with disdain, viewing them as frivolous and shallow, others like Syaiful Rachman are not so quick to pass judgement. Instead his paintings reveal his interest in the profound and complex nature of “mass culture”, and he views it as a window through which we gain insight into the core of humanity’s strengths and weaknesses.

ODETOART.COM

Kettal Pavilion used in a corporate office

HEAD OFFICE KETTAL / CONTRACT : Aragรณn 316, 08009 Barcelona, Spain. T. (34) 93 487 90 90 SHOWROOMS KETTAL: BARCELONA - LONDON - MARBELLA - MIAMI - NEW YORK - PARIS Export Manager Asia: Victor Moncho, victor.moncho@kettal.es T. +86 15001876948