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Colgate-Palmolive Offices by Cachet Group and Laminex
With hybrid working, the boundaries between work and home life are increasingly blurred, and so the traditionally austere office is increasingly giving way to a friendlier and more flexible space to encourage a greater sense of connection and collaboration. This was top of mind when design and construct studio Cachet Group set out to refit the offices of Colgate-Palmolive in Auckland, New Zealand.
After refurbishing Colgate-Palmolive’s Sydney headquarters, Cachet Group was enlisted to extend this vision to the Auckland offices. “Having successfully delivered their Sydney headquarters, we had the knowledge of their brand, people and drivers to bring over the waters and execute well in New Zealand,” says lead designer Andrew Lowe.
As a company dedicated to health and wellbeing, Colgate-Palmolive required an office space that reflected its values. This led to a biophilic-inspired design, expressed through timber-look materials and shades of green. Additionally, the goal was for the design to link back to the Sydney headquarters as a sister space while expressing a uniquely Kiwi flavour. “The overarching driver was to bring the look and feel of Sydney HQ, based on light touches of subtle greens and warm oaks that would evoke a homely, fresh environment,” says Lowe. “In keeping with the colour palette, we’ve darkened the tonality of finishes in response to the base build and New Zealand look and feel.”
Key to achieving a welcoming space was the material palette, with a focus on natural textures and serene greens. For the joinery, Laminex’s Melteca Organic finish was chosen for its tactility, which mimics the movement and variable beauty of natural timber on a highly durable matte surface – and at a fraction of the cost. “Melteca Organic was used on cupboard faces – it’s great for high-traffic spaces, while introducing soft textures to harmonise the palette.” Melteca Planked Urban Oak in Organic finish brings blond timber tones to contrast with the moody green of Melteca Green Slate.
“The overarching driver was to bring the look and feel of Sydney HQ, based on light touches of subtle greens and warm oaks that would evoke a homely, fresh environment,” says Lowe.
For the benchtops, Cachet Group specified Laminex’s HIMACS solid surface. This silica-free benchtop material combines acrylic, minerals and natural pigments to create a visually seamless, hygienically non-porous surface that’s tough enough for commercial and residential applications. HIMACS comes in a range of finishes that capture the warmth and richness of natural stone but, for this project, the subtle texture of Urban Concrete was a perfect fit. “It’s suitable for a high-traffic kitchen, while the mid-tone grey ties in with the textural grains and pattern from Planked Urban Oak and Green Slate.” The material is highly versatile, offering enormous flexibility in fabrication. Here, it’s finished in sweeping curves that echo the organic shapes used elsewhere.
Colgate-Palmolive is driven by an ethos of environmental awareness, with a future-focused goal of promoting health for people and the planet, so selecting responsible materials was essential. Melteca was chosen as a sustainable alternative to timber. Made in New Zealand, it has been manufactured in Laminex’s Hamilton plant for more than 40 years, following best international practices and earning FSC and Eco Choice Aotearoa certifications. HIMACS boasts notable health credentials: it is completely free of silica and has a Declare certification – awarded by the International Living Future Institute – meaning it’s free from harmful ‘red list’ products.
The result is an eco-aware office that walks the Colgate-Palmolive talk while delivering a welcoming and productive space for the company’s growing workforce.
Architecture by Cachet Group. Joinery and surfaces by Laminex.
