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issue 47. 2011

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Perth SpecialEcosciences PrecinctThe HerbariumKizuki + LIMLouise CampbellLes Mills Britomart

INDESIGNPORTFOLIO 115

INDESIGNLIVE.COM

INTERIOR DESIGNER BATES SMARTLOCATION SYDNEY | AUSPROJECT WHYBIN\TBWA\TEQUILA

WORDS PATRICIA NELSONPHOTOGRAPHY RICHARD GLOVER

COME TOGETHER

THIS HERITAGE LOCATION IN SYDNEY PROVIDES A DYNAMIC SPACE FOR AN EXPANDING COMPANY

INDESIGNPORTFOLIO 117

INDESIGNLIVE.COM

Advertising agency, Whybin\TBWA, recently expanded their existing creative space in Pyrmont to a new third level that allows the company to include their digital media

component, Tequila. The design, by Bates Smart, pays homage to both the heritage building and the Whybin\TBWA\Tequila brand.

The design brief called for a space that reflects the agency’s creative nature, and thus the large office space was to be open plan. Whybin\TBWA\Tequila’s expansion up to the third level was part of a move to bring the traditional advertising arm, Whybin\TBWA, together with digital agency, Tequila. Thus, the new space had to encourage communication and engagement between staff.

“With offices globally, it was important that there be a common thread and a degree of recognition that this is another TBWA office, but set in a local context,” says project leader Brenton Smith. “Bearing this in mind, obvious Sydney metaphors were quickly dismissed; as were stereotypical media icons that can severely reduce the lifespan of an office fit-out.” Instead, the designers looked to the building’s heritage and the brand itself for inspiration.

The site, a striking 19th Century warehouse, is the oldest wool bailer in Sydney. An impressive sawtooth roof and ample natural light make it a unique setting for an office. The client and the design team were keen to preserve as many of the heritage items as possible and the final fit-out manages to intertwine historic artefacts with the contemporary finishes necessary for a fast-paced firm.

The building has two main entrances, which can be confusing for visitors. In addition, Whybin\TBWA were already occupying the first two floors; so the challenge was to create flow between the three levels and make it easy to move from one zone to another in a coherent way. “A feature red carpet was introduced at ground level and at the common lobby to enable clients to find their way to the lift-core and proceed to the third floor where the red carpet continues,” says Smith. “This provides an easily navigable route.”

An open plan layout was important, as was transparency. “It was essential for the creatives to be visible to the clients,” says Smith. In order to keep the space open yet defined, black-stained timber rods were hung from the beams. The brief also called for pockets of social activity, and so informal break-outs were introduced. “It was important that the culture and the personality of the business were captured as warm, approachable, energetic, raw and open,” says Smith.

This homely ambience was reinforced with the addition of domestic furniture. New and second-hand items were handpicked to ensure that the atmosphere was not like that of a conventional office. Items, such as three vintage Rosewood credenzas, work to lift the rooms and give the fit-out a timeless edge. “I think we now have a space that makes people feel better,” says CFO Adrian Paul. These sentiments are echoed by a positive response from both staff and clients.

PREVIOUS PAGES Reception is separated from the open plan office by linear screensABOVE The vibrant office bar BELOW Section showing screen arrangementOPPOSITE A graphic break-out area

Patricia Nelson is a Sydney-based freelance writer on architecture and design.

DESIGNER Bates SmartPROJECT DIRECTOR Philip VivianPROJECT LEADER Brenton SmithINTERIOR DESIGNERS Dana Tomic, Herbie GutierrezMECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL ENGINEER WSPBUILDING CERTIFIER Steve Watson & PartnersHERITAGE CONSULTANT City Plan HeritageCONSTRUCTION Renascent

TIME TO COMPLETE 6 monthsTOTAL FLOOR AREA 1,150m2

BATES SMART(61 2) 8354 5100 batessmart.com.au

FURNITURE Workstations and task chairs from Haworth. Loose furniture from Stylecraft, Temperature Design, Café Culture, Yazz, Koskela, Jardan, Interstudio, Vampt Vintage Design, and Space Furniture.

LIGHTING Artek pendants from Anibou, and ‘Coop’ pendants from Yellow Goat Design.

FINISHES Carpet from Tsar Carpets. Rugs from Designer Rugs and IKEA. Concrete floor by Concrete Artisans. Laminate from Laminex. Veneer from Woodstock Veneers. Paint from Dulux. Tiles from Di Lorenzo Ceramics.

Anibou (61 2) 9319 0655 anibou.com.au Café Culture (61 2) 9699 8577 cafeculture.com.au Concrete Artisans (61 2) 8003 4411 concreteartisans.com.au Designer Rugs (61 2) 9550 9933 designerrugs.com.au Di Lorenzo Ceramics (61 2) 8818 2999 dilorenzo.net.au Dulux 13 23 77 dulux.com.au Haworth (61 2) 8586 7777 haworth-asia.com IKEA (61 2) 8002 0400 ikea.com.au Interstudio 1300 785 199 interstudio.com.au Jardan (61 2) 9663 4500 jardan.com.au Koskela (61 2) 9280 0999 koskela.com.au Laminex 13 21 36 laminex.com.au Space Furniture (61 2) 8339 7588 spacefurniture.com.au Stylecraft (61 2) 9355 0000 stylecraft.com.au Temperature Design (61 2) 9331 0116 temperaturedesign.com.au Tsar Carpets (61 2) 9331 4244 tsar.com.au Vampt Vintage Design (61 2) 9699 1089 vamptvintagedesign.com Woodstock Veneers (61 2) 9890 8884 woodstockveneers.com.au Yazz (61 2) 9300 1800 yazz.com.au Yellow Goat Design (61 7) 5532 8659 yellowgoat.com.au

WHYBIN\TBWA\TEQUILA

Brenton Smith, project leader on the Whybin\TBWA\Tequila fit-out, talks about why the Artek ‘A330S’

pendants (pictured left) were specified above the bar.

We wanted to use furniture and lighting that referenced the 1950s and ’60s. Given the clients are an advertising agency, they were keen to reference the glamour of the industry in this era. We used the pendants to give a little glamour and dramatic, theatrical lighting above the bar. The brass-plated steel finish added a little bit of sparkle required to help denote that this is essentially a hospitality area. In addition, the contrast with the black matt crucifix screen behind is striking.

The Artek ‘A330S’ pendant is available in Australia from Anibou.Anibou (61 2) 9319 0655 anibou.com.au

BRENTON SMITH ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, BATES SMART