T2 Headquarters in Melbourne, Australia by Landini Associates

Article source: Landini Associates

Showcasing the creation of a new life for an old building, Landini Associates brief was to restore the former Collingwood industrial warehouse into the new headquarters base for T2.

The aim was to respect and celebrate the original building, while creating a dramatic statement to represent the T2 company’s ethos. Throughout the building, timber beams, columns and brick walls were sandblasted to bring back their original finish whilst a few scuffs and marks are kept as a remembrance of its history. This was contrasted with T2’s trademark dark, streamlined pallet.

Tea Library, meeting space and entrance collide, Image Courtesy © Trevor Mein

• Architects: Landini Associates
• Project: T2 Headquarters
• Location: Melbourne, Australia
• Photography: Trevor Mein
• Client: T2
• Project type: Interior
• Project size:  1300 sqm
• Project completion date: 2013

External view of the T2 Headquarters, Image Courtesy © Trevor Mein

Perceived constraints were turned into an advantage, exploiting various levels within the warehouse while designing a unified space. This was due to the site being located on a sloped block through to the rear street and resulted in the creation of different arrival experiences for both the public and staff.

Staff kitchen with herb garden & window to old boiler room, Image Courtesy © Trevor Mein

With the street frontage lower than the general entry, the public is welcomed into the space through an oversized steel framed pivot door into a double height space. Led by concrete steps, guests are greeted by an oversized T2 logo lit by incandescent light bulbs. To the left of the entrance is a Tea Bar/reception, an informal place to stop, drink and chat to guests, personifying T2’s identity. This space also acted as the trial concept for T2’s latest tea-retailing concept T2B, which similarly features a large cast concrete bar and Tea Library.

Meeting room with operable wall & sheep shearing buckets as lights opens onto tea central, Image Courtesy © Trevor Mein

The staff entry is from the upper level rear car park, from where they walk down onto a catwalk in the centre of the office warehouse. This acts as the sites backbone, yet separates the space into two, housing different functions of the business. Both sides of the catwalk feature different faces. One, a clean façade featuring sleek black steel panels that hide the catwalk, while the other with a timber panels concealing storage systems.

Catwalk from garage (staff entrance) houses storage ÷s the team into left & right brains teams, Image Courtesy © Trevor Mein

While the rawness and industrial experience is continued upstairs in the tea making, tasting workshop and CEO’s office, a completely different colour palette is employed. Here a white, clean space encourages light and nature to enter the room through the opened windows.

Tea Central. A brew bar and tea library replaces the traditional reception desk, Image Courtesy © Trevor Mein

The development marks a new era for T2, providing an innovative and functional office space that reflects a deep understanding of culture, urbanity, and of course, celebrates the centuries-old art of tea-making.

The tea making and tasting workshop – a white backdrop to highlight the color of the teas, Image Courtesy © Trevor Mein

Tags: Australia, Melbourne

Category: Headquarters

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 9th, 2014 at 2:57 am. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.