The Alexandra Buchanan Architecture studio, located inside the London Woolstores at Teneriffe in Brisbane, creatively positions a contemporary work place within an historic building shell.
Beyond the brass plaque and blue door is an interior space that celebrates the building’s industrial past, with exposed brick walls purposefully retained to provide the studio’s distinctive backdrop.
The culture and ethos of the ABA practice is an open and collective one that maintains transparency through the studio processes, its projects, and among its staff.
The design brief sought to reinforce the studio culture whilst maintaining a degree of separation for meeting space, but without creating a physical barrier.
That’s why the floor plan was arranged to subtly distinguish work and meeting zones through colour blocking and a diaphanous fabric curtain. The curtain is a visual separation rather than acoustic, reinforcing the colour blocking of the meeting space.
The existing brick and white ceiling datum tie the two spaces together giving the impression that the spaces are larger and connected.
Atmospheric, cerulean hues are coordinated in render, joinery, and fabric to promote creative discussion around the custom oak meeting table.
Overhead, a captivating textile installation entitled, Clouds by Kvadrat, reinforces the tonal and textural nuances at play.
In the studio proper, work stations are arranged to foster idea-bouncing and cross-desk conversation.
Animated by the fine filigree of pot plant foliage, table tops in oak are paired with clean, white joinery.
Cork and brass details are also introduced to complement the historic brick work and express the contemporary, design-savvy aesthetic of the interior.
A work desk format envisaged as an enlarged “dining table” was created to reinforce communal discussion, work sharing & cross fertilisation – sitting around a central desk moves individuals away from a traditional wall facing arrangement, encouraging cross desk conversation, face to face contact and team building.
Separable desks were utilised for future flexibility and growth.
A separate work environment along the wall provides space for model making, drawing, and drawing board and presentation preparation.
Key Products Used
House Aroma Diffuser – 11+
Niche – by Zaha Hadid for Alessi
Eames House Bird – Vitra
Cork Family – Vitra
ST04 Backenzahn Stool – E15
QT Coffee Table – Stellar Works
Healey Lounge – Walter Knoll
Dalù Lamps – Artemide
Sylphy – Okamura
Alvar Aalto Collection Vase – Iittala
Tube Audio – Leff Amsterdam
Clouds – Kvadrat
Office Table – designed and built by ABA
Project Details
Project size – 57 m2
Site area – 57 m2
Completion date – 2017
Building levels – 1
Project Team
Architecture
Alexandra Buchanan Architecture
Alexandra Buchanan Architecture was founded in 2011 by Architect and Director Alexandra Buchanan.
Their studios in Brisbane and Melbourne create beautiful, liveable architecture, interiors, and landscapes.
The ABA portfolio includes a highly diverse range of typologies including one-off residential dwellings, additions to heritage buildings, bespoke office fit-outs, off-grid eco cabins, and multi-level apartment buildings.
Photography
Jessie Prince
Photo Gallery
Click on a thumbnail image to enlarge.
Design © 2020 Alexandra Buchanan Architecture. All Rights Reserved.| Images © 2020 Jessie Prince. All Rights Reserved.
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