A typically stressful work environment is made homely through clearly defined spaces
November 29th, 2010
TEXT PATRICIA NELSON
PHOTOGRAPHY TYRONE BRANIGAN
An exploration of transitional space and a move away from conventional corporate fit-outs shaped the refurbishment of the Westpac Contact Centre in Epping, Sydney by Geyer. The new hybrid operations centre was driven by Geyer’s vision of a workplace to accommodate not only the comfort and needs of all employees, but also rapidly changing business pressures.
The nature of a typical call centre environment made this especially taxing, and so the scheme looked to create a domestic aesthetic. The Geyer team developed a concept that would differentiate between zones and allow for shared space, encouraging collaboration and contact between staff but also providing room for personal retreat.
The second floor, or the ‘Sanctuary’ is the main area for social interaction, with a café and communal kitchen, and acts as the building’s centre. Casual furniture entices staff to unwind, and on every level are tea points and alternate workspaces.
Read the full story on page 98 of Indesign magazine Issue #43, in stores now.
INDESIGN is on instagram
Follow @indesignlive
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!
In the last instalment of our three-part performance seating series, Alex Bain from Architectus explains why sitting well shouldn’t feel like sitting at all and explores an unexpected success metric of the hybrid workplace: the grounding power of emotional support.
In the first instalment of our three-part series exploring what it means to sit your best, we pose the question to Gray Puksand’s Dale O’Brien, who discusses the importance of ease and majority rule when it comes to sitting and reveals why specifying a task chair is not unlike choosing a Volvo.
In the second instalment of our performance seating three-parter, we turn to DKO’s Michael Drescher and Jacob Olsen to peek behind Sayl’s confident architectural form and explore the ideas of inclusivity, adaptability and freedom to move as hallmarks of what sitting your best actually means.
Stepping into Intuit’s Sydney workplace certainly doesn’t feel like walking into an office. Why? In this film, we discover that, when joy takes precedence as a design driver, even a high-performing commercial CBD headquarters can feel like an intuitive wonderland that invites employees to choose their own adventure.
Art & About returns to Sydney this September, transforming the city’s streets and laneways.
Side Project, hosted by The Stables, is an exhibition and retail pop-up showcasing a collection of work by independent Australian designers and artists, running from August 13–16.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
We round up the seven projects at Copenhagen’s 3daysofdesign that best reflected this year’s theme: Make This Moment Matter.