Located on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung land, Gray Puksand’s design incorporates elements co-developed with Traditional Owners in an effort to connect with Country. The design concept, titled ‘The Life Force of Water,’ is inspired by local cultural and natural landmarks. Gray Puksand collaborated with Wurundjeri elders and Indigenous consultants to ensure the space authentically reflects these narratives. According to Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Dave Wandin, the project team’s involvement in a smoking ceremony at the Coranderrk Aboriginal Reserve informed key aspects of the design, including material selection and spatial layout. Indeed, a private smoking ceremony in the Coranderrk Aboriginal Reserve formed the basis for spatial layout, material selection and colour palette. 

Duncan Harper, Medibank’s National Design and Construction Manager, says that “our people wanted a workspace that supported health and connection, connects to local Aboriginal culture, is equitable and inclusive, and results in a destination that is functional, intuitive and seamless in its environment. It’s from here that we drew our inspiration to create a purposeful workspace.”

The 13,000-square-metre Medibank Melbourne Hub spans six levels in Docklands’ Melbourne Quarter, and is designed to align with the company’s commitment to fostering health and connection in the workplace. This space is designed to support Medibank’s ‘work. Reinvented’ program, which emphasises inclusivity and employee wellbeing.

The workplace is intentionally people-focused, developed after two years of consultation with Medibank employees. This process prioritised spaces for collaboration, energy zones for varying levels of activity, as well as quiet areas for focused work. Key features include an inter-floor staircase symbolising the Yarra Falls, crafted with sustainable timbers, and a series of themed zones inspired by Victoria’s landscapes.

Related: Going off the rails in Melbourne CBD

For example, a breakout space on Level 10, modelled on the mountainous Baw Baw region, features treehouse-style pods, Indigenous plants and access to natural light. Collaboration areas near the staircase employ ripple-like flooring to signify active, high-energy zones, while quieter spaces, called Bolin Bolin, provide calm environments for focused tasks. Additionally, the lobby reflects the identity of Port Phillip Bay, creating a welcoming entry point, while a yarning circle is also included.

Gray Puksand’s Heidi Smith comments on the ambitious nature of the project, noting that it challenges traditional notions of workplace design: “The new frontier in employee wellness is moving away from simply considering yoga and meditation rooms, for example, but to authentically embrace diversity and create a culturally safe place that caters to all working styles, genders, cultures, and faiths.”

This project represents the continuation of a longstanding collaboration between Medibank and Gray Puksand, one that has spanned two decades and included various office and retail projects across Australia. The new Melbourne Hub stands as a testament to the evolving standards of workplace design, prioritising inclusivity, cultural respect and employee wellbeing.

Gray Puksand
graypuksand.com.au

Photography
Tatjana Plitt

Next up: In Addition took the word Lune literally when designing this Sydney flagship