Brisbane-based architect Matt Riley has issued a plea to businesses planning an office design or make over.

The principal of Tonic Architecture + Design is asking them to be bold and re-evaluate the traditional model of the office or studio space.

“I believe the key for the office of the future is functional but adaptable spaces which inspire creativity,” he says.

“Improved internal functional interaction for occupants, better incorporation of street edge boundaries and the outdoors, and consideration for the local community, can significantly enhance both the working environment and the identity of the business.”

Riley’s own office, in Brisbane, was re-designed and re-fitted at a modest budget of $150,000, the extensive use of natural wood products and re-use of demolished structural elements wherever possible has resulted in an open, creative but highly functional and flexible space able to grow and adapt as required.

“We attempted to inject new life into the building, which as an old industrial warehouse, while addressing the street and community as well as the needs of staff and clients,” Matt says.

“To soften the industrial feel of the original warehouse space, the use of natural materials and especially wood was critical. Timber frames and ply sheet cladding were selected as separators of the reception and open office area, largely for their durability, strength and cost efficiency, as well as the textural highlights they bring to a space.”

The office incorporates a simple modern kitchen and a flexible bar and dining space where staff and clients can interact. The bar area and layout of the desks allows flexibility for additional occupants or meeting space by sliding the desks as required.

An important feature is the small front wooden deck which highlights the street presence of the building, provides a welcoming entry point and delivers interaction between building occupants and the traditional streetscape. Ventilation is provided through natural cross flow and sun control devices such as glazing film, limiting the use of air-conditioning.

Riley’s tips from contemporary office design include:

- Introduce a natural material, such as wood, to link the office space with the streetscape or the views from office windows and to soften a corporate or industrial feel;

- Consider how a space can both retract and expand to accommodate changes in the business;

- Use commonly available materials such as ply for front of house areas or as dividers to provide a point of difference from plasterboard and a durable alternative finish;

- Highlight the external identity of the building, what it says about the business and provide a link to the surrounding community; and

- Ensure desk spaces or work stations truly enhance creativity and communication by being functional, flexible and relaxed.

Architecture & Design Team

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