Intentionally Inviting – Schiavello Showroom by Ambit Curator

For more than 55 years, Schiavello has been creating world-class working environments for corporations from every industry imaginable: retail, health, banking, hospitality, law and education among them.

The building, dating from 1892 and located in the heritage precinct of Surry Hills, has served as Schiavello’s Sydney showroom for more than two decades. Maintaining its historical character while creating a modern, welcoming space for clients was the priority. “There were a lot of heritage considerations that we had to take into account and that we wanted to be respectful of,” says Kristian Missen, Director and State Manager NSW at Schiavello. “It was important, too, to capture Schiavello’s own heritage, which we have done with a floor-to-ceiling photo of founder Tony Schiavello taken in the late 1960s, as well as an ‘Anything is Possible’ neon sign – his mantra and the title of his book.”

The brief to interior designer Angela Chang of Ambit Curator was straightforward: open up the space with heritage considerations top of mind, make it warm and welcoming – and the perfect backdrop to show off Schiavello’s workplace design and product capabilities. “Creating an inviting presence began at the very front, where we exposed a window that had previously been closed off,” says Angela. “Flooding the area with natural light and allowing greater visibility from the street really set the tone for the entire refurbishment, which is centred around drawing people in with a light, warm mix of textures, materials and unique pieces.”

“Flooding the area with natural light and allowing greater visibility from the street really set the tone for the entire refurbishment.”

First impressions count, and the showroom’s entry is deeply engaging, featuring a pair of Moon pendants by Italian lighting designer Davide Groppi from iGuzzini, a Schiavello Toro Badjo sofa and armchairs and low-profile Goodwood tables. “The eye is then drawn upwards to the perforated timber ceiling panels, which provide acoustic properties and subtly reference the striking curved tile feature underfoot,” says Angela. “The floor was created using Earp Bros’ Ceppo collection and features large granite ‘pebbles’, imitating the natural Ceppo di Gré Italian stone that is its namesake.”

Another stunning feature of the ground floor is the 350-kilogram, irregular pentagon-shaped concrete tabletop by Concrete Bespoke, supported by Schiavello’s Agile Table bases. “It provides a central gathering point for coffees, which is an absolute must considering the company’s Italian roots,” says Kristian. With those feature design elements in place, Angela then focused on the Schiavello furniture set pieces to be displayed in the showroom, shining a light on everything from Focus Quiet Rooms and Krossi Workstations to the NEXUS integrated tech range and the company’s various seating options.

“The showroom tells the Schiavello story beautifully, showcasing our own design and product capabilities in a space that is befitting of the Surry Hills area.”

Key to this was curating the space into multiple zones, reflecting how modern workplaces function. “These zones include informal community areas where co-workers can connect and interact, ‘residential’ zones where task- and team-based work is supported, retreat spaces for confidential discussions and focused work and meeting spaces and rooms,” says Kristian.

“The showroom tells the Schiavello story beautifully, showcasing our own design and product capabilities in a space that is befitting of the Surry Hills area. We can’t wait to welcome clients and partners in for a coffee and chat.”