What comes to mind when you think of the words ‘find’ and ‘seek’? Perhaps the classic children’s game hide-and-seek; maybe the 2005 song by Imogen Heap; or, possibly the idea of seeking your fortune or treasure. What probably doesn’t come to mind, though, is office design.

But when the design team at Gray Puksand (GP) – a leading national architecture studio – was faced with the challenge of designing themselves a new office space in Melbourne for their 100+ Victoria-based employees, it was from these two words that they drew inspiration.

Having designed workspaces for some of Australia’s most prominent organisations including Bunnings, Medibank, Allianz and the Police Association of Victoria, they turned their expertise to their own needs, deciding to use the design narrative and concept of ‘find and seek’ to inform their process, decisions and design. The result is a warm 1300-square-metre office where the idea of searching, alongside people-first-design principles, have played out in number of ways.

While the design concept, at first, might seem mostly playful – and certain design elements like the large-scale perforated mirrored ceiling above the staircase, which creates what Senior Interior Designer, Lauren Chan describes as a “peekaboo moment,” lean into this playfulness – on many other levels the concept of finding and seeking in an office space is deeply thoughtful and practical.

Striking the right balance of private and shared spaces in workspaces, for example, is tricky and the team at GP began seeking to understand things like: What types of private or shared spaces might be necessary in their office apart from the standard private offices and meeting spaces? How do their staff actually want to use the office?

They sought answers to these questions through a rigorous process of engagement surveys with team members. “The project team took us through the same consultation process that we do with all our clients, exploring the kind of organisation we want to be while reflecting on our core values and determining our best methods of working,” explains Heidi Smith, Lead Partner at the Melbourne studio. One issue identified is that there are many reasons that individuals or small groups might need quiet spaces in the office, such as breastfeeding, praying or creating the best working environment for different neurodiverse needs.

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“It’s about providing choice,” says Dale O’Brien, GP’s Melbourne Partner of the final design which has a variety of rooms and areas. “The studio provides spaces for low lighting and quiet behaviours for low stimulus or areas for a high degree of interactions and vibrancy.”

The narrative of ‘find and seek’ also informed decisions around office furniture which, wherever possible, is reused from the old studio. When new materials or furniture were necessary, the team undertook considerable research into sourcing recycled of bio-materials. “Designing our own workspace gave us an exciting opportunity to explore emerging sustainable products that we don’t always get the chance to use with clients,” says O’Brien.

Going back even further in this office’s story, ‘find and seek’ goes right back to finding a new space to begin with. “It was really important to find a new space that would reflect who we are now and what we wanted for our future as an organisation,” says O’Brien, explaining that the decision to move into a new office came about post-pandemic when the team had outgrown its previous space.

Luckily, GP knew of a long-vacant and overlooked two-storey space on Bourke Street that they felt could be transformed, having re-designed its foyer some years ago. Despite its ideal location and their familiarity with the site, the design team still faced some hurdles: “Even as design professionals, the space we took on was a tricky space, especially as a shell,” says O’Brien.

Furthermore, the challenge of being one’s own client also comes with a certain amount of internal soul-searching. “Being too close to your own project and then living with the decisions can be challenge,” reflects O’Brien. “But you have to have discipline in compartmentalising and have faith in your ability that you made the right decision at the time,” he adds.

Ultimately, O’Brien concludes that overcoming these challenges affirmed to the GP that “you can really make most out of any space,” provided, one imagines, the willingness to find and seek the right approach and design solutions.

Gray Puksand
graypuksand.com.au

Photography
Nicole England

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