Employee preferences for WFH means workplaces need to utilise office spaces as a tool to connect with staff. In Better Workplaces, AdNews looks at how agencies use office design to entice staff to come in and create a company culture worth staying for.
Full service creative agency Today the Brave’s inaugural office is a skinny three-storey hidden gem down an alleyway in the heart of Haymarket.
When the agency took over in May last year, the office was essentially a shell, except for the restored mechanics fitted in the ceiling, a memento from when the building was a factory in the late 1800s.
Working with lifestyle and design brands Coco Republic, the agency's vision for the space was inspired by the building’s pre-existing aesthetic, creating an oasis inside the hustle and bustle of Haymarket, Celia Wallace, partner of Today the Brave, told AdNews.
Office lobby.
"With white-washed stone walls, high ceilings and beautiful shiny copper panelling, the foundation was set," Wallace said.
"We leveraged the assets we inherited, knocked down a few walls, built a boardroom and thought long and hard about the furnishings and particularly the art that would take centre stage.
"The space has been sharply decorated with eye-catching furniture across three floors with impressive street art to create a modern, contemporary look.
"To us, it’s an office and also a gallery. Filled with some of the most creative people in the industry."
Office art, featuring a real banksy!
The agency's current headcount is 23, there are different seating arrangements; from high top tables, break out spaces, such as the bar, sofa areas and meeting rooms where people can reside.
The office has many soft lounging areas to encourage casual collaborative communication and leveraging flexibility for staff to shift around as needed.
Staff haphazardly doing work.
"We didn’t just make it look nice… we made it work nicely too," Wallace said.
"Our clients often book out the first floor for their executive offsites, to get away from the distractions of their offices, and into a more creative space that is conducive to creative thinking and strategy."
Casual breakout space.
The furnishings were inspired by relaxed outdoor lounging, luxuriously comfortable seating.
For example, in the entrance foyer, tactile chairs with New Zealand sheepshing were chosen, which were carefully selected for their shaggy, rugged look and soft hand feel.
Set against the more structured architecture interior, creating an interesting juxtaposition. Most of the furnishings are from the Timothy Oulton collection.
"This was a deliberate choice for us. Everything is built by hand, using time-honoured techniques. It’s all about the craft– much like how we approach creativity," Wallace said.
Casual breakout spaces. A boardroom is behind the glass.
The bar area is deliberately reminiscent of the vibes from one of the agency's venture clients, Maybe Sammy – a prestigious cocktail bar.
Paying homage to the glamour of Las Vegas in the rat pack era, with art deco touches, pink cocktail glassware, a bar and high stools.
Kitchen and bar area.
"Ultimately for us, Today the Brave was designed to not only look good as a creative agency. It’s more than that, it’s about the craftsmanship, the attention to detail and the story that makes it so special," Wallace said.
Agency team shot in lobby.
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