As questions around the meaning of a 9-to-5 workplace continue to arise, Charter Hall and Cox look towards technology and wellbeing for the solution.
July 30th, 2021
The meaning of a 9-to-5 workplace has shifted demonstrably since March 2020. But as many of us continue to regularly work from home – whether by choice or reluctantly as the result of another lockdown – it’s important to consider why the traditional office concept isn’t going out of fashion. Rather, it’s just getting a facelift.
The pandemic has shaken up what offices perceive as necessity. Formerly, although smart technologies and innovative design solutions proliferated, offices were, in essence, a space for staff to work in the same environment. But now that workers have shown work can still get done from home, the general consensus is that office spaces must be designed differently: with collaboration, connectivity, technology and wellbeing in mind.
Designed as part of Melbourne’s new Wesley Place precinct, Charter Hall and Cox Architecture’s 130 Lonsdale Street is doing just this.
“The building design has been conceived to embed environmentally sustainable design principles,” says Cox Melbourne director Simon Hausseger. Among the environmentally sustainable design principles incorporated were a thermally efficient facade and urban greening, which act to enhance the health and wellbeing of users.
Similar to Market Lane’s approach to wellbeing, 130 Lonsdale Street has thoughtfully kept health and wellbeing at the forefront by incorporating wellness-encouraging amenities, such as the basement bicycle racks, as well as biophilic design, such as the use of earth-tones applied in patterns to mimic nature, natural materials such as basalt, travertine and timber, and exposed timber ceilings and feature walls.
The precinct is a well-needed regeneration of the CBD area – significantly, the building also has direct access to one of Melbourne CBD’s only five urban greenspaces. Not only, says Charter Hall’s regional development director Simon Stockfeld, does this greenspace “play a key role in improving liveability in the metropolis, but it also invites returning tenants to work outside on the warmer days”. Equipped with USB chargers and WiFi, it enables an outdoor working environment that caters to the Covid-19 influenced workforce.
In the wake of the pandemic, the building’s internal smart technologies have also stood the test. “People can access the building, call a lift and choose its level with the simple swipe of their mobile phone, while touchless doors and tapware in bathrooms and an air filtration system ensure a healthy indoor environment for our tenants,” says Stockfeld.
Rising above and combining with the heritage surroundings, the building brings a strong sense of identity to the surrounding precinct.
As Hausseger describes it, 130 Lonsdale Street is “a highly sculptural, curvaceous architectural form that responds thoughtfully to both heritage context and the skyline”.
The project was popular enough to be fully leased well ahead of completion by tenants including Australian Super, Vanguard, Cbus Super, Telstra Super, AFCA, UCA, along with Charter Hall, who moved its Melbourne Head Office into the building.
Pictured in images 2, 6 and above, the Vanguard Investments Australia fit-out by Bates Smart.
Charter Hall
charterhall.com.au
Cox Architecture
coxarchitecture.com.au
Wesley Precinct
wesleyplace.com.au
Lynton Crabb Photography
crabb.com.au
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!
Suitable for applications ranging from schools and retail outlets to computer rooms and X-ray suites, Palettone comes in two varieties and a choice of more than fifty colours.
In the pursuit of an uplifting synergy between the inner world and the surrounding environment, internationally acclaimed Interior Architect and Designer Lorena Gaxiola transform the vibration of the auspicious number ‘8’ into mesmerising artistry alongside the Feltex design team, brought to you by GH Commercial.
Building on a recent research paper, Helen Bell and Dr Brett Pollard discuss how social value is defined, its potential pitfalls, and why it matters.
British architecture practice, AHMM, now has a home in Sydney. We caught up with Paul Monaghan ahead of his Australian Architecture Conference keynote speech.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Meet a design studio that takes the business of design to another level. Zenith’s in-house Design Studio makes all the difference and let’s find out why.
Melbourne’s Wall to Wall festival has just taken place, transforming neglected urban spaces into vibrant hubs of creativity through large-scale mural works by renowned artists.
Alona Klaro, founder of Klaro Industrial Design (KID), has set her sights on shaking up the specification game. As a product designer with expertise in office furniture, Klaro is looking to bring the “slow fashion” approach to fit outs and interiors, paving a way for commercial designers to address the evolving needs of modern workplaces […]
For 50 years, Alspec has been a driving force in Australia’s architectural landscape. As a wholly Australian-owned company, their commitment to innovation and exceptional service has positioned them as a leading supplier of aluminium window and door systems for commercial, residential, and industrial applications.