CORPORATE HQ
PHOTOGRAPHER
Matt Biocich
In the heart of Perth’s CBD, a bold transformation has taken place, one that challenges the conventions of commercial property, workplace design, and sustainability leadership.
PAPER, in collaboration with Camila Giacoia, were engaged to transform a vast commercial environment into a workplace with a heart, one that reflects the Client and their values.
The Client has settled into a vast campus-style floorplate of 5,557sqm on Level 3 which includes a mezzanine, along with an external reception floor on Level 2. A food court and retail space in its former life, the voluminous level 3 floor was stripped back to its native structure retaining some intrinsic finishes, including the northern heritage façade.
The negotiated Lease allowed the client to take control of a raw ‘cold shell’ space, an unconventional methodology that reduced upfront construction waste, time and cost. Philosophically, a material minimisation approach was applied. New functional elements were inserted into the space touching the building fabric lightly. Capital was rediverted into built environment along with technical upgrades like under-floor displacement air- conditioning. Furniture, infrastructure, and architectural elements were salvaged from the food court and integrated into the new office or rehomed. All product, planting, and equipment made available from the Client’s previous office were adapted and reused.
"Creating a harmonious community on a large, elongated floorplate required a unique planning approach" - says Kim Thornton-Smith, Partner at PAPER.
“Urban placemaking principles comprised of familiar design elements were utilised to create a sense of belonging and orientation. These included distinctive streets with reflective pockets, elevated work neighbourhoods, community nodes and visual landmarks. Like all successful urban communities, social amenity encouraging bringing people together is provided at key intersections of the floor plan with third space destinations including the Hub Café, Library and refresh zones strategically placed within naturally illuminated spaces.”
A limited pallet of natural organic finishes drew inspiration from the climate, geology and the primordial history of the site. Predominantly timber, the built environment created a warm counterpoint with the raw industrial fabric of the building structure. A warm, neutral base pallet created a canvas for greenery and bold accent colours found throughout the natural landscape. Tucked along the streets are circular nooks enveloped by hemp rendered panels, each with unique settings for respite, collaboration or conversation. Drawing inspiration from native wildflowers, PAPER collaborated with CC-Tapis and Mobilia to design custom rugs that define each unique setting.
User adjustable desks and equipment allow true accessibility and personalisation. Work settings span collaboration zones, focus rooms, library-style areas, and unbookable touchdown desks – ensuring everyone has what they need, when they need it.
Significant floor to ceiling heights set the stage for prefabricated modular construction to be inserted as a strong visual counterpoint. The meeting, focus and phone pods manufactured by Unifor are primarily constructed with a timber finish, double glazed doors and timber framed fenestration. Composed as a series of volumes, the pods bring a sense of intimacy and human scale to the vast floorplate, and a familiar and legible streetscape.
As an introspective space, floor to ceiling facade glazing on the northern and southern elevations are supported by centrally located skylights to flood natural light deep into the floorplate, creating movement of light and shadow that reflects the rhythm of the day. Natural light is layered with ambient up/down lighting, sensor controlled for a sensitively tuned environment.
Earthy tones and textures along with the mass planting of 1600 plants throughout provide a sense of calm and wellbeing.
At the intersection between two main plant-lined streets, a switchback staircase lined with aluminium forms the principal landmark.
“For people to use the mezzanine space, it needed to be visible and accessible off a main path of travel. By introducing a new stair connection from level 3 and cantilevering out over the workspace, we created an architectural gesture that resonates with the timber meeting pods below” explains David Rey, Partner at PAPER.
Behind the project meeting room sits the ‘refresh zone’, serving as an extension of the base-building’s end-of-trip facility, catering not only to physical activity but also to mindfulness, recovery, and balance.
Design specifications were evaluated not just for their material inputs but also for their performance during occupation and their end-of-life outcomes. Focus was applied to key circularity principles such as modularity, maintainability and adaptability. More than 250 tonnes of product are covered by stewardship or take-back agreements that transfer to the landlord and any future incoming tenants.
This office offers a blueprint. Not intended to be copied, but to be learned from. This project wasn’t about being the biggest or boldest. It was about being intelligent. And in being intelligent, it has become something rare: a workplace that reflects who the client is a what they value.
