Open House Melbourne 2018: K2LD's 49 Exhibition Street offices
As Open House Melbourne 2018 draws ever closer, a number of architectural practices will be throwing open the doors to their offices, allowing the public a glimpse at their working environments and providing them with a better understanding of the work architects do.
For the 2018 program the following architects are opening up their offices:
- Archier Studio
- Idle Architecture Studio
- Wolveridge Architects
- COX Architecture
- Fieldwork
- PHOOEY Architects
- Bates Smart
- Technē
- K2LD
But the focus for today's piece will be K2LD’s newly refurbished office space over three levels at 49 Exhibition Street, Melbourne.
K2LD is an Architectural and Interior Design studio that has a wide range of expertise across a diverse portfolio of project types such as individual houses and community precincts, through to multi-unit developments, educational projects and large-scale commercial projects. K2LD believes that no built outcome is identical and their key focus is on the design journey and the establishment of ongoing client relationships.
In late 2017, K2LD moved from its humble office into a new larger studio space. The new studio not only caters for the practice’s growing team but is a showcase and exemplar of the work of K2LD Architects and Interiors.
The new studio also sees some of K2LD’s closest business partners and companies come together and share the space, bringing together a melting pot of creativity, skills, and ideas.
The design of the office focused on the theme of integration, collaboration, functionality and intimate creativity, coupled with an aesthetic vision around the use of strong dark lines against a neutral palette and splashes of greenery.
This has resulted in a large hub with central kitchen-and-dining space, where staff gather at lunch or after work for various events and celebrations.
Additionally, concepts of fluidity, seamlessness and personalisation are optimised in this new space inspired by the works of Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier.
Alongside the hub are a variety of different sized meeting rooms, designed to promote engaging design critiques and client meetings of varying sizes.
The expansive boardroom dismisses notions of sterility in such formal environments and is softened via its materiality in the form of boomerang lights, plush carpeting, sheer linen drapes and timber ceilings.
As designers, we have the ability to greatly influence how a person experiences and moves through space, and as such we deliberately set the tone of the boardroom to debunk the traditional corporate ambience that would be expected,says
- Tisha Lee, K2LD Director
The neutral background and supportive materiality, continues through the entirety of the office, allowing for different stories to be created while bespoke furnishing and objects complement the space.
The transparent and inclusive environment of the office allows for activity-based working through formal and informal break-out areas, large open-plan zones and a central kitchen and dining hub which acts as the Studio’s focal point, much like a kitchen in the heart of the home.
A unique gallery space on level one also allows for gatherings and talks, and offers an opportunity for artists to exhibit their work, promoting multiple layers of creativity within the organisation.
Open House Melbourne 2018 Program:
Photography Restricted: Yes
Open: Sat 10am - 4pm
What's Open: Level 2 hub, office space and board room. Level 1 meeting rooms and gallery space
Tour Details: Tours at 10am, 10:30am, 11am, 11:30am, 12pm, 12:30pm, 1pm, 1:30pm, 2pm, 2:30pm, 3pm, 3:30pm, running for 20minutes, in groups of 10
Special Programming: Hands on activity for kids including colouring and take home materials.
Building Type: Workplace
Access: Pram accessible, Fully accessible
Tour Type: Guided, queue
