2014 National Association of Building Designers Awards
BEST ALTERATION/ADDITION NON-RESIDENTIAL DESIGN
Birkenstock Australia HQ Designer: Melbourne Design Studios Pty Ltd Phone: (03) 9077 2240 Web: www.melbournedesignstudios.com.au Builder: Emac Constructions Location: Clifton Hill, VIC Photographer: Peter Clarke and Marc Bernstein-Hussmann Cool contemporary design with a warm feel and a holistic approach to sustainability was the main ingredient for the Birkenstock Australia HQ. The award-winning design succinctly translates the brand’s core values into joyful spatial experiences, intuitively illustrating Birkenstock’s commitment to quality, craftsmanship, sustainability, honesty and a healthy lifestyle. Active and passive ESD systems like solar PV, a double greenhouse shopfront, daylighting strategies, and improved thermal performance have made this old building eco-friendly. The design features natural materials such as sustainable timbers finished with linseed oil, E0 plywood, rubber, recycled floorboards, bench tops from recycled paper with bamboo fibre, and low VOC finishes.