The Motus Office brief was to design a space that demonstrated the firm’s motto ‘Evocative Spaces – Inspired Solutions’ within the angular two level mezzanine office space.
The Motus office is located in a mixed used development on the corner of Ley Street and Downey Drive in Como. The brief was to design a space that demonstrated the firm’s motto ‘Evocative Spaces – Inspired Solutions’ within the angular two level mezzanine office space. This space employed minimalist industrial materials, natural timbers, modern furnishings with splashes of colour that aligned with the company branding to successfully achieve this.
The client’s requirement for a ‘collaborative working’ environment meant all workstations (directors to work experience) were designed to remain open plan, visually connected and grouped into project teams. The variable nature of the industry meant that spaces needed to be flexible. Work stations are modular and the glazed boardroom is equipped with stacking sliding doors increasing the space to double its size, allowing the office to evolve and transform over time. The entry / waiting area also doubles as an informal meeting space as well as business library and shopfront, to engage clients with the Office’s other projects.
This design was intended to represent the energetic and youthful nature of the ‘Office’, while in parallel providing a refined work environment appropriate for a professional firm seeking to expand into larger and more complex work. This project explores how the fit-out of a space can represent a corporate identity, from its flare and flamboyance to aspiration and professionalism.
The Motus Office displays a raw yet refined internal space. This could be described as a minimal / industrial aesthetic and is synonymous with the business’ identity. A floating staircase, exposed steel, multi-coloured glazing, raw concrete ceilings, exposed ducting and planar fittings and fixtures all resonate with an industrial subdued style. While coloured feature panels, a red kitchen splashback, coloured furnishings and a fluid timber screen represent the energy and dynamics of the young team.
The design incorporates classic design principals, light, energy efficiency, cross-ventilation, spaciousness, and functionality; this is combined with an honest material pallet and a contrasting colour scheme that together conveys the personality of business.
The double storey curtain wall of the entry façade allows natural light to flood into the office. Its composition includes multi-coloured glazing, and an arrangement of operable awning windows promoting cross ventilation and venting hot air at high level. The office feels light and spacious with a majority of white walls. Motus branded colours blue and green are integrated into the CFC feature wall and subtly through other elements in the office. The ground floor ceiling is an exposed concrete slab painted black to juxtapose the silver air conditioning duct and LED lights suspended from it. Natural timbers and timber laminates soften the otherwise hard material pallet.
Together with structural and mechanical consultancy all aspects of the fit-out were given and designed to meet the brief. The office space is representative of Motus’ design style and philosophy that showcases and sets a standard to future clients, syndicates and consultants.