![Book Flatlay Cover Front Transparent Trio[1]](https://d31dpzy4bseog7.cloudfront.net/media/2024/06/07080212/Book_Flatlay_Cover_Front_Transparent_Trio1.png)
Rochester Street Office by Allied_Office, Akin Atelier, Second Edition and Dangar Barin Smith
Located in Botany, Rochester Street Office intrigues passers-by with its cascading greenery, which offsets the suburb’s contrasting collection of warehouses and apartment blocks.
Previously one of Sydney’s most prominent industrial areas, Botany is now home to a thriving community of makers, builders and designers. And one crucial component of this shift is the addition of Rochester Street Offices, the workplace for Robert Plumb Collective, one of Australia’s leading bespoke brands in construction, landscaping and design.
Grounded in innovation and collaboration, the brief called for a flexible office space that allows for different tenancies. “We wanted a space that was filled with light and provided a calm environment that makes coming into the office a joy, with a large kitchen where people could have lunch and socialise across the different levels and different arms of the business,” says Bill Clifton, managing director at Robert Plumb Collective. The brief also called for outdoor space, integrated planting, private meeting rooms and vibrant breakout zones that foster collaboration in line with the company’s work practices. “We were also interested in testing new materials, building performance and making sure that the design took advantage of all the skills within the Robert Plumb Collective.”
Beyond the leafy facade, the building itself is simple, appearing as three long containers made up of concrete posts, beams and slabs. “This enabled big panes of glass and enough heft in the structure to accommodate the planting of outdoor areas and edge beam planters that circle the upper floors,” says Andrew Macdonald, director at Allied Office. While this element welcomes ample natural light and greenery into the space, the large windows require careful sun protection. The upper level lies beyond the glazing line to shade the ground floor, while on the upper level itself, perpendicular screens made up of brick with extrusion holes regulate the light and allow for vistas over the neighbouring rooftops.
Akin Atelier and Second Edition’s layering of interiors offers a refined yet playful experience. Recycled offcut local marble flooring in the lobby is complemented by a timber staircase, polished concrete and glass screening, while terrazzo chosen from salvaged marble offcuts adds vibrancy. There is a spacious and pared-back kitchen, with moss green cabinetry punctuating the otherwise grey, neutral tones. The bathrooms are perhaps the most distinctively toned spaces – lined in recycled terracotta tile render and Oregon joinery for a bold and welcoming feeling.
The materiality also reflects the history of both the location and the company; terracotta roof tiles, timber and natural stone are sourced partially from Robert Plumb Build sites, while crafted loose-fit joinery from Cranbrook Workshop and furniture are made from locally sourced, recycled Oregon timber. Walking through the office and noticing these details reiterates what the Robert Plumb Collective stands for. “The interior design is an experiential landscape that communicates the values of collaboration, craftsmanship, sustainability and innovation,” says Kelvin Ho, founding director of Akin Atelier.
“The interior design is an experiential landscape that communicates the values of collaboration, craftsmanship, sustainability and innovation,” says Kelvin Ho, founding director of Akin Atelier.
Overseen by Dangar Barin Smith, the landscape design is unrefined and raw, allowing Rochester Street Offices to blend into its semi-industrial surroundings. Greenery weaves throughout in a way that makes the distinctive building look as if it were always there while also softening the bold concrete facade. Native plants are favoured; diverse native grasses, groundcover and shrubs feature alongside melaleuca and eucalypt trees, used on slabs and in raised planters.
Grounded in a playful yet practical approach that responds to Botany’s evolving vernacular, Rochester Street Offices feels thoughtful and unpretentious. Together, Allied Office, Akin Atelier, Second Edition and Dangar Barin Smith have conceived a dynamic workplace that reveals the power of collaboration, creativity and experimentation, eloquently echoing the core values and philosophy of Robert Plumb Collective itself.
Architecture by Allied_Office. Interior architecture and interior design by Akin Atelier. Landscape design by Dangar Barin Smith. Build by Robert Plumb. Material design and loose furniture design by Second Edition.
