Tag: Co-working space

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Design Designers Interiors Addict Interviews

The ‘homely’ office is the latest workplace interior design trend

The fifth office space for Melbourne co-working brand CreativeCubes.Co, this unique co-working space was designed by Corso Interior Architecture and is set over 3,500sqm in downtown Collingwood. Director Joey Corso recently picked up a design award in the 2022 Melbourne Design Awards and is fast becoming an expert in the office design sphere.

“For this site, we have focussed more on a refined luxury whereas the other buildings are more honest, fun and loud,” says Joey.

Creative Cubes

Reflecting the push for more residential-inspired office interiors designed to make workers feel at home, the space is imbued with warmth and is comprised of a variety of layered, interesting spaces. “We want members to feel like they are not in a sterile workplace, so we used warm lighting, handpicked furniture, signage and artworks to really bring it all together. We ensured that no matter where you are in the building, that something special can be seen,” says Joey.

CreativeCubesCo

The office has four levels that are interconnected via central stairs while full height windows ensure views and plenty of natural light on all sides of the building. The ground floor is filled with meeting rooms, an events space, concierge and café; all designed to encourage social interaction and networking. “There’s a real balance between work and play designed to make people enjoy coming to work,” says Joey.

Flamingo pink chairs add colour in the open-plan collaboration space while graphic black and white floor tiles feature in the kitchen and bathrooms. The meeting rooms combine wall panelling and wallpaper. 

Creative Cubes

Like the wall panelling, the furniture (provided by Baseline) was chosen to be comfy and practical; all the desks are electronic meaning you can choose to sit or stand while working. “Overall, the space strikes the perfect balance between a comfortable homely office and a corporate setting.”

Photography: Simon Shiff

For more on CreativeCubes.Co

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This Sydney co-working space will have you longing for Monday

Woo! Social Club is a new co-working space in Sydney’s Surry Hills, designed by Studio 1 Interiors, and housed inside…
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Design

Is this Sydney’s best looking co-working space?

Desk area
Desk area

With the rise of the gig economy, and the increasing number of people working remotely, there’s been a proliferation of co-working spaces, some more design-led than others. But the latest one to hit the Sydney scene, Example House, is perhaps the best looking one we’ve seen so far!

Desk area
Desk area

Located in Rushcutters Bay, the 350 square metre space was once the site of a smash repair garage, but it’s been reimagined by Acme, the multi-disciplinary design firm behind some of Sydney’s most stylish hospitality spaces including The Grounds of Alexandria, Fred’s and Archie Rose.

Lounge area
Lounge area

The space is an extension of the brand and marketing agency Example, and its company ethos underpins it. “Collaboration is the heart and soul of Example; the agency was designed to bring together creative experts across different marketing disciplines to produce great work, so this felt like an organic evolution of what we do,” says the director of Example, Rebecca Gibbs.

Bar
Bar

The site’s original details are still evident (high ceilings and sandstone walls), but they’ve been accented by several modern additions including deep blue sofas, a neon artwork by Tom Adair and an ever-changing rainbow bookshelf. The site also has multiple breakout areas including a marble kitchen, luxe lounge area and bar that regularly plays host to tastings and workshops on Friday afternoons.

A neon artwork by Tom Adair hangs alongside an ever-changing array of books
A neon artwork by Tom Adair hangs alongside an ever-changing array of books

The idea for the space came about after Rebecca noticed many friends who were missing out on opportunities through working on their own, or from less than inspiring surroundings.

“Example House is about bringing a bunch of smart and passionate people together, raising the bar for our industries as a whole. A place to share ideas, laughs and success. It doesn’t matter if you’re running an established business, solo operator, or freelancer, if you work with beers, bars or boutique brands; if you’ve got ideas, we’ve got desks,” says the company co-director Andy El-Bayeh.

Meeting area
Meeting area

Example House has a range of membership options from $40 a day including hot desk day passes, monthly memberships and permanent desks. Members can also book the meeting or conference rooms, bar and lounge area, or even the whole venue for events.

The business is housed inside an old smash repair shop
You can see remnants of the old smash repair shop on the outside of the building

Photography: Craig Wall

For more on Example House | Co-working in other people’s homes

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Homewares Interviews

SMITHMADE: A new northern beaches retail experience for Sydney

As retail continues to evolve (necessity is the mother, right?), we’re starting to see more and more interesting purveyors popping up and the latest addition to Sydney’s northern beaches scene is one such business. Based in Balgowlah, and the brainchild of Nicole and David Dunbar (of Manly’s Mr & Mrs Smith fame), the warehouse space is primarily a retail store but boasts a co-working space complete with photography studio and commercial kitchen for food styling and events too.

A styled space at SMITHMADE

“First and foremost, we are a retail furniture and design store providing an editorial room-to-room walk-through experience. SMITHMADE is curated to show the individual aesthetics of local and international designers and to seamlessly integrate products into the idea of a home.  Our aim is to regularly offer different points of view through our own styling and also through external stylists and tastemakers to keep the space interesting and ever-evolving,” says Nicole.

The store features a broad product mix with Turkish rugs, South East Asian antiques and one-off pieces featured alongside a series of pop-up spaces and rotating artists. “Presently we are showcasing MCM House as their only Sydney distributor (outside their own stores) and Pop & Scott have a 50sqm pop-up too.” The store also features Scandinavian labels Fogia, Friends & Founders, Rubn Lighting and Swedese, alongside Dinosaur Designs, In Bed, Pony Rider and a host of other homewares and soft furnishings.

Aside from the retail offering, SMITHMADE is a hub for creatives too, with co-working spaces regularly on offer. “Most creatives today have all the technology available to enable them to work from any place and at any time. I believe with this increase in mobility and flexibility, there has also been a drive to work in spaces that are both inspiring and practical for their needs. We also hear from our creative community the immense value in collaboration for inspiration, the cultivation of ideas, and sometimes even the technicalities of producing what they love. Many of the people that utilise our space are sole operators or small design businesses so the opportunity to share ideas on styling, marketing, promotion or even bookkeeping and finances, is invaluable,” says Nicole.

David and Nicole Dunbar

The store’s commercial kitchen also gives it the ability to host events, workshops and exhibitions ensuring the calendar is always full. “So far we have hosted talks and workshops by the Sydney Design School, a fashion show by Mr & Mrs Smith, and have an amazing photographic exhibition scheduled for February. By March we will have hosted a high-profile launch event for award-winning architect and designer Drew Heath, and even a beef and beer masterclass curated by the amazing chef of Mumu Grill fame, Craig Macindoe,” says Nicole.

The warehouse space is an ever-changing scene

The store has also hosted a series of floral workshops by Fleurette. “It has been a busy start in our first six months since opening, but we are loving it and plan on continuing and growing the interactive side of the business,” says Nicole.

For more information

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Designers

This Sydney co-working space will have you longing for Monday

Woo! Social Club is a new co-working space in Sydney’s Surry Hills, designed by Studio 1 Interiors, and housed inside an expansive warehouse with an abundance of natural light. “Industrial meets green was the theme created for this space and with a lean start-up budget, and a tight deadline, many pieces were sourced secondhand,” says interior designer and stylist Laura Downie.

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“It was a pleasure to work on a project where we could re-use, recycle or repurpose pieces of furniture from around Sydney – all of which I think contributed to the overall finished look of the space. And so much fun was had sourcing them too! It’s always nice to meet the previous owners and hear the history of a piece before bringing it into its new home,” says Laura. Secondhand cork floor tiles were repurposed into a huge cork board wall, old trestle tables became share desks and crates were fashioned into pot plant stands.

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Other notable features include a cow hide rug and a secondhand Chesterfield sofa. “These items help zone different areas in what is a large open space,” says Laura, who introduced a pop of colour in the form of a painted feature brand wall too. “The sign writer is booked in but is yet to do the job!” says Laura.

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Aside from natural textures, the space also features an abundance of plants – the perfect finishing touch. “All that natural light and timber called for plants and lots of them. I’m not sure I shall ever tire of plants,” says Laura who enjoyed the creation of the space so much that she has taken a desk for herself. “I love the opportunities and friendships that come from local collaborations between people who love what they do.”

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Feature wall of aqua paint with cork board detail (top left)

Woo! Social Club casual desks start at just $50 per week and event space hire from $300 for up to four hours. See here for more and check out more of Laura’s work here.