Broadspectrum Offices – Auckland
Wingate Architects was tasked to create a workspace to complement Broadspectrum‘s Sydney headquarters for their location in Auckland, New Zealand.
With Headquarters in Sydney, the Auckland office was to relocate from inner Auckland city to the city fringe. The new office followed three fundamentals that were key drivers to how we approached the design process; Functionality, flexibility and identity. Our brief was to establish a connection back to corporate headquarters in Sydney and ensure the outcome would provide spaces for collaboration, focus and increased productivity.
It was clear from the beginning that the natural outlook of the surrounding commercial office park was dull. This created an opportunity to direct emphasis to internal spaces. A focus to a central spine of the space was explored and became a pinch point to what forms the arrival to the breakout, kitchen, informal meeting areas, and a place for communication, collaboration and circulation. This approach led to two fixed desking zones, maximizing natural daylight to both sides of the floor plate. This allows everyone to have a view and connection to the interior “outlook”, which commonly became known as the courtyard.
Materiality was carefully considered and curated to provide similar character traits to its counterpart in Sydney. Although Auckland spoke a similar design language, it was imperative we acknowledged New Zealand to form its own identity. As a result, the two offices accent each other. An elegant palette, crafted with sophistication in mind, meant curvature and linearity defined the application of materials to spaces. The use of stone, timber, natural and dark stained oak veneers, fabric wrapped acoustic panels, perforated metals, lighting and furniture solutions were all relative to achieving a desired outcome for the client.
Thresholds gave materials a purpose which informed and directed how spaces would be used; contrast of dark and light, informal and formal, collaboration and focused. Circulation with proximity was relevant and a connected environment was essential to achieving functionality. Gravitational spaces were optimized with bespoke design solutions and plants staff could relate to, offering a sense of wellbeing. Acoustic treatment provided minimal disturbance and allowed maximum use in these spaces. Unity through connection to place and space, allowed staff and visitors an opportunity to respond to the three fundamentals forming their own version of how they inhabited the spaces day to day.
Design: Wingate Architects
Photography: Sam Hartnett
