Gray Puksand has relocated its Melbourne studio to a new self-designed two-level workspace on Melbourne’s bustling Bourke Street that caters to the architecture workforce of the future.

The design narrative for the new studio, coined ‘find and seek’, was developed by the project team to tie back to Gray Puksand’s core identity and reflect the practice's unique personality.

“As individuals, we find places to collaborate, interact, engage, and inspire, and seek places to retreat, reflect, and focus,” says Gray Puksand’s Melbourne Partner Dale O’Brien, who led the project delivery alongside Senior Interior Designer, Lauren Chan.

“Gray Puksand’s Melbourne studio needed an environment that fosters creativity and innovation while catering to the diverse spatial and behavioural needs of our growing team.”

The guiding narrative is reflected throughout the studio’s design, which embraces flexibility and future-focused ways of working.

“The space incorporates a multitude of agile environments, enabling our neurodiverse workforce to find a setting that allows them to each lean into their respective strengths,” says Heidi Smith, Lead Partner at Gray Puksand’s Melbourne studio.

The conception and ideation process involved thorough consultation with Gray Puksand’s Melbourne team to thoroughly understand their needs and desires for the new 1,300sqm space while embodying the firm’s core values of people first, collective intelligence, leading design, and inspiring outcomes.

“The project team took us through the same consultation process that we do with all our clients, exploring the kind of organisation we want to be while reflecting on our core values and determining our best methods of working,” says Smith.

“Working face-to-face is critical to our business. It allows us to deliver leading design outcomes through discussion and collaboration, foster a strong workplace culture, and facilitate growth and development for team members at all levels.”

Sustainability was a key consideration in the design process, with most of the furniture repurposed from the previous studio and a conscious effort made to embrace recycled and eco-friendly materials.

“Designing our own workspace gave us an exciting opportunity to explore emerging sustainable products that we don’t always get the chance to use with clients,” says O’Brien.

The first principle was to consider the thoughtful reuse and repurposing of furniture and technology, reverting a variety of items from landfill to extend their lifespan for years to come.

Innovative materials used include post-consumer waste recycled plastic benchtops in the collaborative breakout space, plant pots made from recycled fishing lines found in ocean waste, textiles made from recycled materials, and high-performing acoustic products that add visual interest.

Wellbeing and comfort were at the front of mind during the project’s delivery, resulting in the inclusion of multi-purpose wellness spaces with cork flooring that accommodate multi-faith prayer rituals and provide privacy for breastfeeding parents.

“When designing workspaces for diversity and inclusion, a key design guideline is to create an environment where everyone feels supported, wants to come to work and enjoys being there. Naturally, people gravitate to spaces that suit their personality so we designed distinctive breakout areas that can be used for multiple purposes, catering to our staff’s differing needs,” says O’Brien.

Upon arrival, the new studio welcomes visitors with a striking metal mesh curtain and polished plaster reception desk, creating an unexpected moment of inspiration.

"We’ve consciously included unexpected ‘peekaboo’ moments in different areas to spark creative ideation. One of these moments is the perforated mirror ceiling above the staircase, offering fractured reflections of people moving up and down, creating a dynamic visual experience,” says Chan.

The studio's welcoming atmosphere is further enhanced by a carefully selected colour palette, featuring warm rusty tones complemented by greys and blues, which harmonise with the historic red brick façade of the adjoining Gollin building.

The presentation arena exudes a more saturated colour palette, showcasing richness and intensity designed to encourage collaboration, interaction and conversation between staff.

The studio also boasts 3.8-metre floor-to-ceiling glazed windows that overlook an avenue of trees on Church Lane, providing streetscape views and forging a strong connection to nature for staff.

Reflecting on the project, both Smith and O’Brien expressed immense pride in the team’s commitment to creating a space that truly embodies Gray Puksand’s identity.

“It can be intimidating to think about designing a space for designers because of the sheer number of passionate voices. However, everyone in the Melbourne team was respectful and supportive of our process. They were genuinely curious and excited about the choices we made,” says O’Brien.

“I’m incredibly proud of the team who worked on the project. They have approached this design with enthusiasm, dedication, and meticulous consideration to deliver a new workspace that intrinsically reflects who Gray Puksand is,” says Smith.

Images: Gray Puksand’s Melbourne studio / Nicole England

Clémence Carayol

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