Forbes House
In Melbourne’s design precinct of Prahran, a former steel-door-and-window showroom has been transformed into a two-level workplace that feels more like a penthouse apartment or a members’ club.
Conceived by Studio Griffiths in collaboration with Swee Design and built by Nutone Property, Forbes House reimagines the office as a layered, expressive setting defined by artistry.
Deep timber panelling, inky walls and soft lighting create an atmosphere both formal and welcoming.
The client, Forbes Global Properties, sought a space that was elevated yet embodied the ease of a private residence. “The brief was never to create an office in the traditional sense, but a physical expression of the Forbes brand – a space defined by sophistication, lifestyle and connection,” says interior designer Gillianne Griffiths of Studio Griffiths.
Upon entry, guests are greeted not by a reception desk but a moody, Fifth Avenue-inspired lounge. The adjacent dining-meets- boardroom is anchored by a four-metre-long marble table beneath a sculptural brass canopy. Deep timber panelling, inky walls and soft lighting create an atmosphere both formal and welcoming. The palette – honed stone, patinated bronze, ebonised timber and plush upholstery in hues of burgundy and ochre – lends warmth and depth, establishing an environment that invites conversation and comfort in equal measure.
“Art was approached as a narrative device – emotive, sculptural and designed to create moments of pause and reflection.”
Upstairs in the office, the tone shifts to one of clarity and focus. Pale walls, focused workstations and refined detailing maintain the same sense of craftsmanship. The design continuity allows the mood to evolve seamlessly from one floor to the next without losing cohesion, embodying the duality of retreat and collaboration that defines modern working life.
For Swee Lim of Swee Design – who led the furniture and art curation – the project’s strength lies in its emotional resonance. “Each piece was sourced through longstanding relationships with Australian makers and collectible design galleries,” she says. “Art was approached as a narrative device – emotive, sculptural and designed to create moments of pause and reflection.” Works by Simone Serle, John Young and Tom Blachford add rhythm and intrigue, while pieces by Daniel Barbera, Porcelain Bear and Mobilia contribute to the home-like elegance. Together, they compose a dialogue between art, architecture and lived experience.
Builder Trevor Newton of Nutone Property reflects that “the challenge was stripping back a stark commercial shell and rebuilding it with residential finesse. Every detail, from joinery to lighting, was crafted to feel bespoke, intimate and enduring.” The result, he adds, is “a space that performs like an office but lives like a home”.
From the street, Forbes House remains discreet, and stepping inside, the noise falls away. It stands as a benchmark for the contemporary workplace – one grounded in comfort and creativity – and a testament to the collaboration between designer, curator and maker.
