Eclectic and Vibrant: Mecca Support Centre by Studio Tate.

Studio Tate has designed a support centre for Mecca in the heart of Melbourne’s Richmond neighbourhood. Vibrant and light-filled, the new space draws on colour, tactility and beauty iconography to craft the perfect home for the Australian beauty retailer, coinciding with its 25th anniversary.

Studio Tate worked with Mecca to build on the initial design concept, which was developed by a long-term collaborator of the brand, and create a workplace that would feel energising, inviting, and warm—reinforcing the company’s narrative while fostering a thriving community feel for team members and visitors.

Forming part of a larger campus of buildings, the mid-century warehouse offers an industrial backdrop to the centre’s richly layered interior. The raw building envelope is embraced, while “built forms sit as pods nestled below the exposed truss roof,” reveals Anita Zampichelli, Associate of Studio Tate.

Window seats and workstations brim the perimeter of each working floor, flanked by lounge settings that encourage teams to gather for group tasks. A central spine of meeting, quiet, and wellness rooms offers visual and acoustic privacy, with a series of water points and lockers creating moments of reprieve between. The dexterous planning enables clear sightlines and abundant natural light across the floor plate to enhance connection and well-being among team members and visitors.

Meacham Nockles-designed MECCA Flagship Opens in Sydney CBD.

An iconic retail landmark has been transformed into the Australian beauty retailers first flagship store...

“When dreaming up our new Support Centre we worked out that we wanted it to be a mix of university vibe, hang out café, home cocooning and quiet spaces,” explains Mecca Founder and co-CEO, Jo Horgan. “We wanted it to be light, airy, colourful and energetic so that people would want to be together to allow for creativity, brainstorming and human connection.”

Jo’s love of colour inspired a playful, eclectic palette of finishes, reflecting the colour artistry of the retail stores. Bursts of vibrant orange, yellow, red, pink, and plum are tempered by subdued neutrals. Walnut timber veneer, natural leather, earthy laminate and natural cork wall lining foster a warm, domestic feel, set against the warehouse’s robust, painted brick walls, honed concrete floors and original terrazzo entry stair.

In line with the brand’s focus on sustainability, the workplace’s environmental impact is reduced through design. Built-in joinery is minimised in favour of loose pieces that can be dismantled and moved to suit changing needs, offering long-term investment. Indoor planting improves air quality and mood, while a rooftop solar array significantly improves building performance.

Holiday Inn in Melbourne's West by Studio Tate.

Holiday Inn unveils an approachable and design-minded tone for the well-established accommodation brand...

Vintage furniture and wall lights—carefully curated by Design Consultant, Denise Neri—such as the iconic Le Bombole armchairs and DeSede DS 600 lounge, reference the spirit of the warehouse’s origins and pay homage to the sought-after status of Mecca’s most covetable beauty products. Existing workstations are reused and reconfigured, while environmentally conscious materials such as Comcork flooring, Portugal Cork wall panelling, and Tretford goat hair carpet improve environmental performance. Stylist Louise Paterson helped bring this to life through a skilful merging of new, reused and repurposed elements, crafting an enduring and approachable tone, effectively bridging the gap between retail store, home, and work environments.

Despite its expansive 4,500 square metre footprint, the interior maintains a feeling of intimacy through its spirited use of colour, materiality, eclectic furniture, and lighting—“tonal shifts that echo Mecca’s energetic in-store experience and ensure a consistent brand experience across touchpoints,” reflects Anita.

Tatiana Bilbao's Large-scale Installation Opens at NGV.

For the MECCA x NGV Women in Design Commission Tatiana explores the concept of clothing as a symbol of protection...

[Images courtesy of Studio Tate. Styling by Louise Paterson. Photography by Sharyn Cairns.]