The new 1,500-square metre headquarters for Yamaha Music Australia pays homage to the brand’s culture, values and history.

The new 1,500-square metre headquarters for Yamaha Music Australia pays homage to the brand’s culture, values and history. Inspired by the creativity of music, the new space encourages staff to perform at their best.

When talking through the design concept, Alla Delion of Studio Mint says, “Our design vision for Yamaha’s new head office is based on merging the strong Yamaha culture, collaboration and performances with influences from Japanese design language.”

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Collaboration was key to the fitout, which is a reinforcement of the Yamaha culture.
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Collaboration was key to the fitout, which is a reinforcement of the Yamaha culture. This manifested itself with a central kitchen and breakout area for staff to come together and connect. In addition, a central atrium and staircase provide a zone for colleagues to spend time together, whether accidental or planned, fostering interpersonal communications.

The kitchen and central stair are used as a vehicle to foster planned or accidental interaction between staff.

Upon entry, guests and staff are greeted by a statement entrance, which is a reference to the strong historical culture of the brand. The reception desk is constructed in natural timber, taking a form inspired by the guitar pick.

The timber reception desk is inspired by the shape of a guitar pick.

The office includes a display area – a space that showcases the beautiful Yamaha instruments as sculptures. The pieces sit within glass displays cases accompanied by ambient background music and gallery-style spotlighting. Main guest areas can be easily transformed depending on the need required, for example, they can open up from an entrance/gallery space to a larger performance hall.

Left: Meeting rooms can open up to a larger performance space. Right: The instruments are displayed as sculptures.

The Japanese aesthetic comes through in both overt and subtle ways, from the material palette of timbers and simple colourways to the integration of greenery and workstations with solid timber returns.

Photography by Peter Clarke.

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It’s been said that workplace design is increasingly inspired by hospitality, take a look at the Woods Bagot Perth office.