The recent fit-out of Greenwood Roche’s offices in Auckland, designed by Wingates, offers a measured approach to updating a workspace within a heritage context. Situated in the Hayman Kronfeld building in Britomart, the design amalgamates a balance between modern functionality and the architectural legacy of the site.

“It’s a building with a lot of rich texture in the natural fabric of the building, with the exposed timber trusses, flooring and the brick,” says Sarah Bryant, Principal of Wingates. “We wanted to complement and enhance the shell we had been given.” The project addresses the practical needs of a contemporary law firm while engaging with the existing fabric of the building.

As a project law firm advising across public and private sectors, it was paramount the layout reflected their non-hierarchical, flexible culture – starting with the task of reworking an interior the firm had outgrown into something that aligns with these values, all while being considerate of the heritage constraints. “In their previous office, it got tight and they lost some of their central collaboration zones; they wanted to regain that,” says Bryant. Thus, the team looked into how to redefine those delineated zones. For example, the kitchen became the heart with a breakout decorated with soft couches.

“We did a due diligence period with the clients to make sure the type of building was going to work for them. Being lawyers, acoustic privacy is important, and they were coming out of a more cellular office,” adds Bryant. “We worked closely with an acoustic engineer initially to make sure the client was comfortable with how the [firm would operate] in that respect.” The design incorporates open-plan workspaces alongside private meeting rooms and phone booths. These interventions provide a balance of collaborative and quiet zones, addressing the necessity for flexibility and focus.

A preserved element with the base building offered a feature material of dark chocolate-charred ceiling, a remnant of a 1965 fire that damaged part of the structure. Rather than masking this history, Wingates integrated it as a focal point, using the material in the reception desk and complementing it with vintage furnishings to create a connection between old and new.

“We thought about the project as we were putting the jewellery on the building. [Decorating it] by adding colour, richness and the softness,” explains Bryant. “The clients had a favourite item they wanted to bring, which was a globe that houses their whisky collection, which sits perfectly with the vintage items.” Brass detailing is then used sparingly to catch the light, adding subtle moments of éclat. The antiquities informed the thoughtful material palette that is echoed throughout the space, where restrained choices complement the original architecture without overshadowing it.

Related: Workplace design in North Sydney by Those Architects

Bryant notes the design process was influenced by the work of revered designer Tom Dixon, as well as the question of how to work within the parameters of an existing structure. Wingates’ approach to Greenwood Roche’s office is a practical and solid yet sensitive example of how heritage can be incorporated into modern office design without being overstated – and all with clear respect for the building’s history.

Wingates
wingates.co.nz

Photography
Jono Parker

Also by Wingates – Anthony Harper workplace design