Techne's New Office in Melbourne's Carlton

Architecture and interior design studio Techne have relocated from Melbourne’s CBD to a new office space in Carlton that would make getting up and going to work every day a little sweeter. Known for their acclaimed hospitality projects across Flinders Lane and wider Melbourne, the firm draws parallels between the enticement needed for both workplace and hospitality design.

“It’s about creating a space that attracts, excites, develops and retains exceptional people. A workplace is no longer just a place to work, it is a place to be yourselves, to be at your best and to be proud of what you do as ambassadors for your organisation,” says senior associate Gabriella Gulacsi.

Taking a user experience approach, the practice considered the way their employees work and the personalities at play, coming up with an agile, considerate and flexible design. Techne’s approach – which included conducting a two-part workplace survey about the kind of office staff wanted – is indicative of a broader shift in the magnitude placed on the ambience of a workplace in this day and age.

Fostering collaboration and socializing was important. Pinboards run the length of the office, both essential to the team’s design process and encouraging dialogue and communication. Textural furniture such as a marble meeting desk and cane-backed chairs embody Techne’s unique yet strategic approach. Rather than dividing walls, blue mesh curtains and glass denotes the space. Iconic chairs are suspended on the wall, a playful alternative to art or sculpture. On a lower level, a ‘workshop’ games room features the ubiquitous ping-pong table seemingly essential to all new workplaces and celebrates hand-crafted design with a toolkit wall.

With mobile technologies and remote work depleting dependence on a physical office, Techne recognises the importance of a space that unites their team. “To attract and retain staff the contemporary workplace needs to bring people together… creating authentic spaces where people can come together to either collaborate or socialise becomes extremely important.”

See more projects from Techne on Yellowtrace here.