Woods Bagot has set a new benchmark for sustainable workplace design with the completion of an innovative 850sqm show suite on Level 8 of Westralia Square 2, Western Australia’s first commercial timber hybrid tower.

Featuring a fully demountable system crafted from precision-milled plywood, the design allows every wall to be disassembled, reconfigured, and reused, delivering ultimate flexibility and minimal waste to the client, while achieving significant reductions in upfront embodied carbon emissions.

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According to Ethan Trang, Interior Design Leader at Woods Bagot, their design approach was inspired by the timber construction of the Perth building.

"This project allowed us to completely reimagine how we approach commercial interiors," says Trang. “We were guided by our innovative clients to craft a future forward workplace that was sustainable, flexible and premium.”

The bespoke show suite’s design narrative is informed by principles of craftsmanship, circularity and adaptability. The fitout centres on the modular XFrame system, fabricated from pine plywood in South Australia and assembled locally in Perth. This system replaces carbon-intensive materials such as plasterboard and steel with renewable, low-carbon alternatives, achieving a reduction of approximately -3,150kg of CO2 (for 260m² of wall frame area) compared to conventional construction methods.

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Beyond its immediate carbon savings, the system’s ability to be reassembled ensures long-term environmental benefits by reducing the need for new materials in future refurbishments, resulting in the near complete elimination of emissions associated with their supply.

“There were a lot of nuances and peculiarities with a timber hybrid building, and we did push the modular wall system to its limit. However, constraint became our greatest opportunity, and we've created something so sophisticated and bespoke that it is hard to imagine all the walls were not constructed from metal frame and plasterboard,” observes Trang.

The interior design also celebrates local artistry through elements such as a custom reception desk by renowned WA furniture maker Nathan Day, complemented by handcrafted, mid-century Italian furniture for an international flair. While the colour palette draws inspiration from Perth’s natural landscape, the materiality juxtaposes the warmth of walnut timber against the coolness of metal mesh, with premium hospitality-grade finishes maintained throughout.

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"We took Westralia Square 2’s design codes and elevated them to create something entirely new on Level 8," notes Trang. "The cross-laminated timber slab frames the entire workplace, and we've celebrated this with an intricate ceiling design that shifts and changes throughout the space."

The open-plan environment maintains generous ceiling heights with an open ceiling in sky blue to expand the visual horizon. Both front-facing spaces and back-of-house areas have received the same level of design attention, an approach reflecting Woods Bagot's philosophy that sustainable design need not compromise on quality of the space.

"Everything has been designed to be disassembled and reused," emphasises Trang. "We’re very excited to be one of the first in Western Australia to deliver a sustainable workplace that not only looks good but feels great.”

Photos: Supplied

Architecture News & Editorial Desk

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