Starbucks Australia Offices – Melbourne
Starbucks Australia’s headquarters design reflects brand heritage through textures and stories of coffee, balancing tradition and modernity, fostering a unique workplace culture and connection among staff, by Made For.
Starbucks has an unmistakable identity – one of the most recognizable brands in the world. Designing a headquarters meant capturing that essence while creating a workplace that felt unique to Starbucks Australia. The result is a space that reflects the evolution of Starbucks in Australia, balancing brand heritage with the needs of a modern workplace. The design draws from the rich landscapes where coffee is grown, weaving in the textures, tones, and stories of the coffee journey – from harvest to cup. Every element was considered to bring the company’s culture to life, ensuring the space feels both authentic and fresh.
With no previous unified headquarters, there was no established way of working, no roadmap for how their culture could come to life in a space. We worked closely with their leadership, people and culture, and brand teams to define this – creating a workplace that brings their people together in a way that reflects how they work best. One of the highlights is a space that heroes their Monday ritual: every week, two team members make coffee for the entire office, sharing wins, connecting workstreams, and taking a moment of gratitude to start the week. The foyer houses a fully operational Starbucks cafe – part test kitchen, part meeting place, part stage for their annual barista championships. More than just a brand touchpoint, it’s a working space that allows the team to experiment, gather, and celebrate their craft.
From the layout and finishes to the wayfinding and branding, every detail was considered to create a space that is undeniably Starbucks – without being a carbon copy of one of their stores. The overarching challenge was in weaving Starbucks’ brand DNA into the space in a way that felt intentional – capturing its legacy without defaulting to the familiar. The result is a headquarters that balances heritage and evolution, giving Starbucks Australia a workplace that feels both deeply rooted in the brand and entirely its own.
Design: Made For
Builder: Amicus
Photography: Veeral Patel
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