Siren Design and Adriano Pupilli Architects have reimagined the mezzanine and ground floor spaces at 1 Martin Place as inviting spaces for both work and play.
November 26th, 2018
The recently completed renovation of the ground level and mezzanine of 1 Martin Place is nothing short of spectacular. Siren Design and Adriano Pupilli Architects (APA), along with construction company Graphite Projects, have definitely delivered the goods and the client can’t be overlooked either. Charter Hall Group brought together this dream team, following a design competition where each studio submitted a concept for the prominent Sydney address.
Reflecting on the process, Mia Feasey, Siren Design’s co-founder and CEO, notes, “I think the way all parties involved collaborated with each other was key to the outcome. If everybody wasn’t open to new ideas or shared similar values and had similar ways of working then the project would be nowhere as successful as it has been. Everyone brought their own strengths to the table. It’s definitely one of the best collaborations we’ve ever been involved in.”
While Siren Design’s concerns were directed more towards the interior architecture and APA’s more so focused on the architecture, both practices faced the same initial challenge. How were they going to activate areas that were basically a thoroughfare in order to make people feel comfortable enough that they would want to linger and ultimately keep on coming back? Their solution was to transform these ‘third places’ into spaces that are all about community, providing the building’s tenants with somewhere else to work and socialise.
The resulting scheme reads as a welcoming marketplace where people can meet their neighbours, friends and colleagues. And the mezzanine, including a café and different seating arrangements, is particularly inviting because of its expansive canopy structure made of tens of thousands of dowels. This was an opportunity for Siren Design and APA to play with scale and proportions because of the generous ceiling height and they’ve delivered a genuinely memorable sculptural insertion. More significantly, it serves to visually unify the different nooks and circulation paths across both floors, immediately drawing people in.
There’s also clear vertical integration between the two levels, with the sculptural staircase and a double-height digital artwork creating a strong connection. Both elements are dynamic in appearance and it was important each floor’s design embody that sense of activity and movement.
“The mezzanine and ground floor are constantly changing depending on the time of day; people are racing up to their office in the morning or racing back down at lunchtime and in the evening, there might be an event on,” says APA Director Adriano Pupilli. “So it was essential to tap into that energy and keep everything fresh, which gives people the idea there’s always something going on and always something to see.”
The art gallery’s positioning upon entry immediately engages and throughout the fit-out, mobile furniture and joinery make it easy for people to curate their own space. “Workplace and work-related interiors used to be a one-size-fits-all scenario, but now it’s all about flexibility and a ‘user is chooser’ way of thinking,” explains Feasey. “So when people walk into the mezzanine at 1 Martin Place, for example, they can look at all the different settings and go, ‘Ok, what am I actively about to undertake and what is the most suitable setting?’”
Different light fittings are used to denote different settings as well, which adds another level of nuance to the design. And while the canopy is the fit-out’s most compelling expression, it’s perfectly complemented by the blonde timber of the joinery and the mezzanine’s sandy-coloured flooring.
These spaces work hard to facilitate interpersonal connection and succeed in creating an environment that’s not only welcoming but also conducive to positive interactions.
Dive into the Siren Design archives here. And sign up for our newsletter to get all the latest straight to your inbox.
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
The leading furniture supplier solidifies its Asia Pacific expansion with an immersive new showroom space.
Australia’s leading producer of solid-engineered oak flooring has recently launched a new suite of innovative resources to support creativity and ambition in the architecture and design community.
Putting their money where their perfectly painted mouth is, MECCA diverted almost 4 tonnes of furniture from landfill during the recent renovation of its headquarters with the help of Living Edge’s Relive program.
For Living Edge, B-Corp certification was the next appropriate step in a long journey focused on building a truly sustainable and socially responsible business. In 2023 they achieved certification at their first pass, giving customers a new level of environmental assurance and the company an important milestone to celebrate across two decades of staff-led, sector-leading sustainability practices.
Urban renewal which opens a dialogue from the past to the present; Melbourne’s Western CBD is on track for complete revitalisation.
Guided by three experienced architects with unique personal stories, EM BE CE is a young practice on the rise in Sydney. Timothy Alouani-Roby met the directors to find out about their collaborative studio culture.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Design that speaks many languages is to be treasured and enjoyed. Trent Jansen tells a story of design collaborations and connections through his work on Country with friends and artists who bring the perspective of First Nations people to the fore.
The new wave of architecture shaping the changing face of China is extraordinary. We round up 7 projects – from floating monasteries to breathtaking high rises – that reveal the scope, skill, history and tradition that is Chinese architecture today.