Carr’s design for MinterEllison's Adelaide office is a celebration of Brutalist architecture and contextual elements.

Working across two and a half levels of the iconic Grenfell Centre in the heart of Adelaide, Carr was tasked with bringing the office up to national standards while paying homage to the city’s contextual elements, materials and vistas. “Adelaide’s central business district is defined by its series of well-known Brutalist buildings. These form an overt expression of concrete materiality and, as a group, form a distinctive architectural language,” says Rebecca Trenorden, associate director at Carr.

Creating an informed and strategic brief that reflected the entire business’s needs, Carr consulted various internal stakeholder workstreams during the design development stages.

“The outcome is a strong reflection of the key design drivers, which were: timelessness, consistency, context in locality, and the enduring professionalism that is synonymous with the MinterEllison brand,” says Erin Uphill, interior designer at Carr. This resulted in a clear design language that pays homage to the office’s position among some of Adelaide’s most treasured Brutalist buildings.

Entering the office on the client floor at level 10, clients and employees are met with framed views across the lobby, creating ties back to Adelaide’s city grid. Here, the space has been transformed into a light and open environment through Carr’s creative solutions to introduce light, space and harmony across each level. Inconspicuous ceiling mirrors, for example, give the illusion of height despite the low ceiling.

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A central stair connects the entire office, punching through three floors and creating moments for interaction, visibility and activity. The blackened metal handrail contrasts with the overall light material palette defined by sandstone.

Locally sourced materials, including joinery details such as banquette seats, feature across the client floor. “MinterEllison’s new workplace pays homage to this surrounding context with framed views out and interior references through materiality and form. Our design approach looked to appreciate the rich urban fabric, while creating MinterEllison’s own identity within the Brutalist context,” says Trenorden.

The outdated work floors were modernised using an open plan with long sightlines, removing segmented partitions and corridors. While partners still retain private offices, the majority of the 145 workstations are now agile, signalling a change in work style.

Introducing natural light and finding ways to offer views out for all team members was a priority. Breakout spaces on level 9 offer areas for group gatherings, perch spots and individual workspaces. Adelaide’s pocket parks inspired small breakout and collaboration spaces introduce biophilic design principles, designed by Emma Sadie Thomson, around the periphery of the work floors.

The new design posits an open environment that invites and connects. Importantly it celebrates the city’s Brutalist architectural icons, strong forms, local materials and dark detailing. Carr’s design honours the city’s architectural and green elements, materials and vistas, transforming MinterEllison’s office into a space that is timeless, consistent and open.

Carr
carr.net.au

Emma Sadie Thomson
emmasadiethomson.com.au

Photography
Tom Blachford

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